Attempt by Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa to commence a 6,000-youth empowerment programme through the use of Traditional Rulers after failure to pressurize the State Executive of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE to call off their two-month old strike may spark up fresh unrest in Warri between Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw if urgent measures are not taken to arrest the growing anxiety , Fresh Angle International can report.
Governor Okowa originally intended to give out forms for the empowerment programme through the Local Government Councils after seeking approval from the State House of Assembly to borrow N10 billion, despite lamenting the huge debt profile he inherited from the Uduaghan administration, where he served as Secretary to the State Government in the first tenure. But in what looks like a smart alternative since the State NULGE Executive declined to call off the strike, Governor Okowa invited Traditional Rulers to Asaba and briefed them through his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro of his administration’s resolve to execute the empowerment programme through their palaces, hinging his argument on non-political partisanship of the traditional rulers.
The decision to engage the traditional rulers as medium for collection of the empowerment forms is presently generating growing anxiety, particularly among Itsekiri of Warri Kingdom and pockets of Urhobo following a facebook post in the early hours of Thursday July 2, 2015.
The post which many believe is the handwork of Governor Okowa’s online men, seemingly reduced the over-lordship of the Olu of Warri to Warri South Local Government Area alone, with a wrong address reading “Warri South, Ikurede Itsekiri, HM, Ogiame” and not taking into account reasonable presence of Urhobos in Warri.
The post technically directed those seeking to collect the empowerment forms in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, arguably dominated by the Itsekiri to go to “HM, Gold Oro Tiemo Bini Pere III, Egbema” for Warri North and “HM, Deinmowuru Donokonmo III (JP) Isaba” for Warri South-West Local Government Area.
The subject of the controversial facebook post reads, “Completed forms should be returned to the Chairmen of Traditional Rulers Committee in the 25 Local Government Areas”.
As at the time of filing this report, there was already growing discontent among Itsekiris in Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, with many of them expressing their displeasure on social media platforms.
There have been speculations among some Itsekiri folks that Governor Okowa not getting the support of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan prior to the PDP governorship primary may have been responsible for the Governor’s decisions so far, particularly against the backdrop of the support he got from High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (AKA Tompolo), who surprisingly has his own Itsekiri political friends, who have kept sealed lips on recent political developments as it affects Itsekiris.
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