A coalition of Delta Ijaw support groups of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have announced plans to protest against Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
The coalition consisting of 35 support groups and former Niger Delta agitators, announced the move in a letter dated April 1, 2024 and addressed to the governor.
The groups cited neglect and desertion of their members by Governor Oborevwori in his appointments since his emergence.
In the letter signed by Amb. Austin Okporu and Jackson Agbor, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the coalition lamented that several appeals to the governor to seek audience have been left unattended, leaving them with no choice than to block the Delta State Government House during the protest.
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The coalition further lamented high levels of lopsidedness and nepotism portrayed by the governor in his appointments made so far.
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The letter titled ‘A CALL FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST IN THE MATTER OF ABANDONMENT, NEGLECT AND DESERTION OF MEMBERS OF THE COALITION OF DELTA IJAW PDP SUPPORT GROUPS BY THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT’, reads;
“The leadership of Coalition of Delta Ijaw PDP Support Groups, comprises of conglomerate of leaders from 35 various Support Groups as well as Niger Delta Ex-agitators Forum wishes to first and foremost express her gratitude to all relevant authorities that deemed it expedient to intervene in our issue, upon receipt of our letter/notice of intention to carryout a peaceful protest dated 19th February, 2024.
“Aimed at drawing the attention of His Excellency, the executive Governor of Delta State to our plight.This is pursuant to Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), as amended.
“We have made repeated but futile attempts/efforts to seek an audience with His Excellency through plethora of letters, with the hope that these concerns would be addressed and Unfortunately, our appeals have gone unanswered, leaving us with no choice but to resort to a peaceful mass protest at the entrance of the Government House Asaba.
“We have watched carefully and come to the conclusion that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is deliberately not interested in appointing members of support groups form Ijaw extraction. Moreover, during the electioneering campaigns, our groups demonstrated unwavering loyalty and commitment towards his course and worked effectively to actualize same.
“We mobilized all our members and followers, printed Banners, T+shirts, Fez caps, Handbills and traversed the entire state spending our meagre hard-earned resources. This is driven by our burning passion, penchant and belief in His Excellency’s candidacy/project. However, it is disheartening and demoralizing that despite our efforts, we have been abandoned, deserted, neglected and/or precluded in the scheme of things.
“Our counterparts in other parts of the state, particularly in Delta Central, have been given mass appointments. sadly, Local Governments that lost abysmally to the opposition both in Governorship and Presidential elections have gotten more appointments than the Ijaw L..G..A.s that PDP recorded landslide victories, both in Presidential and Governorship elections.This is also as a result of the collaborative efforts of the Delta Ijaw PDP Support Groups, who mobilized, moved from unit to unit , made concerted efforts towards galvanizing the electorates and canvassing votes for all PDP’s candidates.. It is worthy of note that His Excellency promised us in a meeting held on the 17th day of March, 2023, which was eve of the Gubernatorial/State House of Assembly polls.. That we should go and work and come for our rewards/appointments. The Governor graciously made this promise right in his conference room at his residence in Osubi. We have done as he rightly directed, let him fulfil his part of the deal.
“We are still at a lost as to why His Excellency has decided to treat this matter with sheer levity. We have worked assiduously for the victory of the party. Therefore, it is our democratic right to be considered for appointments.
“In light of the above, we are mobilizing the various groups that formed the Coalition and other groups for the peaceful and non-violence protest, billed to commence on 8th of April, 2024.
“TAKE NOTICE THAT: we shall mobilize to the entrance of the Government House on the aforestated date and dwel there until all the issues raised in our letters are holistically addressed.”
