Ijaw Leaders Lament Exclusion From Okowa ‘s Administration

The Egbema Leaders of Thought, apex body of the Ijaws of Egbema kingdom in Warri North council area of Delta state, have accused the Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration over alleged marginalisation in terms of political appointment of people from the region.

This was disclosed in a letter signed over the weekend , by the group’s  chairman and organizing secretary, Edmund Tiemo and Samson Uroupa respectively.

The group stated that its people have suffered the same fate since 1999 despite continually delivering bloc votes to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“You will recall that in your first tenure, no Egbema person was appointed into any key position in your government, no project was sited in any of our communities, despite the enormous contributions to the state treasury through oil and gas facilities in our land.

“Your Excellency is no doubt fully aware of the political injustice we have suffered in the State and particularly in Warri North LGA for the past 28 years in the form of discrimination, marginalization and even total exclusion in government appointments and participation in government activities.

“We are also not considered for employment into the civil service because we do not have political godfathers,” the letter stated.

Expressing hope that the governor can still effect the much needed change, the letter in parts added, “there is no doubt that you came to steer the cause of injustice and oppression of the Egbema people.

“Before the appointments were made, you had repeatedly said that fairness, equity and justice will play a key role in the choice of persons to be appointed.

“We know that it is still within your power to act and quickly correct the mistakes that have been made with a view to dissociating yourself from the history of injustice that Warri North LGA is notorious for,” the letter read.

“Aside in the political equation of the state,” the letter described the recent appointments into the State Executive Council, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and other statutory Boards as “lopsided.”

“The Egbema people have suffered this “political injustice” for the past 28 years stemming from the local government, the letter pointed out that only one of the two ethnic nationalities in the council cannot be the only beneficiary of key positions.