The rumoured endorsement of the speaker of Delta state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori by the Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa has unsettled the political outlook of Delta state ahead of the 2023 general elections.
It is widely believed that Okowa had an unholy agreement for an Ijaw successor with Chief Government Ekpemupolo AKA Tompolo and other notable Ijaw leaders, preceding his victory at the PDP primaries in 2014, which led to the massive support given to him by the Ijaw political bloc.
Before the purported endorsement of Sheriff, The Trumpet learnt that Okowa has constantly been in touch with the Ijaw leaders, with the view of honouring the 2014 agreement.
A government house source who pleaded not to be mentioned, confided in The Trumpet, that the endorsement of Sheriff is just a mere smokescreen. He noted that it is a plot by Okowa to further complicate the already complex political permutations for Delta Central District.
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According to the source: ” Okowa is just using the Sheriff endowment as a smokescreen to complicate the politics. He is aware that the major political bloc from Delta central is loyal to the former Governor James Ibori.
” He is aware that the Ibori political bloc is projecting Olorogun David Edevbie for governor. They have made several attempts to impeach Sheriff and replace him with Ibori’s daughter, but Okowa has always protected him because he wants to use him for this purpose.”
The source noted that Okowa is keeping his political card close to his chest, noting that whatever is been done in the open for now is just to cause more confusion before he will pull out his final shocker.
He added that: “what we don’t know yet is who the governor will eventually pick from the array of choices before him. But as for Sheriff, it’s just a political gimmick. That is why since the so-called endorsement, no major political actor from the governor’s camp has made any major moves toward Sherrif. Series of meetings held within Delta Political Vanguard –Okowa’s major political bloc has indicated that a lot of leaders in the group are not comfortable with a Sheriff as a gurber choice.
“Delta is a very complex state. In 2007, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan was not in the picture till the last moment. In 2015 Sir Anthony Obuh was used for the same purpose until Uduaghan’s camp finally settled for Edevbie. The same scenario is playing out today, unfortunately, many are still falling for it”.
Another government house source who is a pro-Sheriff has said that Sheriff is Okowa’s final choice for the 2023 general election. He noted that Okowa arrived at Sheriff after due consultation with leaders across the 3 senatorial districts of the state.
“Okowa made up his mind on Sheriff after consultation with leaders of the three senatorial districts. He considered different options available to him while consulting leaders across the three senatorial districts. It was after due consultation with leaders that he and members of his caucus made up their mind on Sheriff.
“One major factor that worked for Sheriff is his federal constituency of origin. While Ethiope and Ughelli federal constituencies have produced governors in the state, the Sapele/ Okpe/ Uvwie federal constituency is yet to produce a governor.
“Besides, his leadership style which earned him the longest serving speaker of the state house of assembly, his loyalty to the governor also played a major role. I can authoritatively tell you that Okowa has made up his mind on Sheriff for governor, the source added.
A few days ago The speaker officially declared to run for the 2023 governorship election in a well-attended event at the PDP state secretariat in Asaba.
Reacting to the endorsement of Sheriff, Okowa said he has not endorsed anybody as his successor come 2023.
Speaking through his Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, the governor said “those dropping his name are doing so to gain some political mileage, stressing that as a democrat, he is not interested in asking anybody to step out of the governorship race.
Okowa noted that the aspirants were simply identifying with the achievements of his administration and the integrity which he had built over the years, he said;
Meanwhile, it seems that the battle line is drawn between Ibori and Okowa. Over the weekend, the former governor said that God will disgrace all those plotting to disgrace him in the state.
Ibori said this during the official declaration of Delta Central Senatorial ambition of the national chairman of Delta Central 2023 (DC-23), Senator Ighoyota Amori, at his country home in Mosogar, Ethiope West Local Government Area.
The Trumpet gathered that the former governor has been having a running battle with the incumbent governor, over his recent choice of the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the state which is believed is tinting toward the Ijaw.
Recently, he visited Tompolo to appease him to support a candidate from Delta Central District.
Ibori, who is believed to have produced his two successors, while endorsing Sen. Ighoyota Amori as his preferred senatorial candidate in PDP, noted that as a stakeholder in PDP and Urhobo nation, he should have a say on who becomes what in his senatorial district and the state.
He warned that those planning to undermine him, in an attempt to disgrace him at the poll will be disgraced by God.
Sheriff, born on 19th of June 1963 hails from Osubi in Okpe local government of Delta state. He was first elected in 2015 as a member representing Okpe State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly under the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP).
He was elected speaker of Delta State House of Assembly on 11 May 2017 following the impeachment of the then Speaker, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya. Sheriff was re-elected speaker in 2019.
