By Jimitota Onoyume

Egbema kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, has enjoined governor Sheriff Oborevwori to redress alleged political marginalization of the area , stressing that virtually all elective offices in Warri North local government were occupied by a neighboring ethnic group.

Leader of the All Progressives Congress , APC, in Egbema, Chief Promise Lawuru, made the call after a unity meeting of top political players in the kingdom, convened by elder statesman, Pa Edmund Tiemo, in Warri.

He said the intervention of the governor would make the area vote massively for his re-election like they did in the previous election.

A statement on the meeting said a vote of confidence was passed in Pa Tiemo as the father of the Egbema APC , adding that Chief Lawuru was accepted as national leader of Egbema APC.

The statement reads, : “Lawuru, a notable APC Chieftain in the Niger Delta, urged the Governor to act progressively by ensuring Egbema people have their fair share of representation in the state’s affairs.

“I want to call on the state Governor to correct this injustice that is happening in Delta state, especially Warri North.
There are two commissioners in Warri North, all are from one ethnic group; the House of Assembly is there, it’s one ethnic group.

“Now that he is a progressive Governor, in Progressive, we have a way of doing things. We believe in justice. With that, 2027 will be a walkover for him. If you analyse the voting in Warri North in the last election, you will see the votes Egbema gave to him. If we as APC members at that time, he did not find us worthy to give office, what of those that have been working with him? That has gone. Now that he is a progressive Governor, he should think progressively to make sure that Egbema is represented in any affair of the state,” Lawuru said.

“He said the people will work with their Itsekiri counterparts to ensure Egbema people got elective offices.

“Egbemas will contest, it could be the House of Assembly, or any other that we have right to contest. And this time, we want to beg, our brothers should see reason why we should be in elective offices.
It is unfair for our brothers to send only one ethnic group since the creation of the LGA. This time we will brainstorm with our brothers and our kinsmen to make sure that Egbema gets elective offices,” he stated.

“The culture of the Peoples Democratic Party was to enslave the people of Egbema, we never had the opportunity to represent our own people. We had to correct that, and that is why we left. We hope that the new defectors will leave that ideology.

“For me leadership is beyond leading, it is being a follower too. This task that is given to me, I know that the larger percentage of it, is followership. The symbol of our party, the broom, represents unity, and it works collectively. It’s with unity that we will be able to achieve, ” Lawaru said.

“On his part Pa Tiemo, emphasized that as a kingdom critical to Nigeria’s economic mainstay, “unity is paramount” among the Egbema people to enable productive political participation that will attract meaningful development to the area.

“He encouraged all to maintain cordial relationship no matter the difference in opinions in order to move forward as a people.

“We are members of Egbema kingdom, the first intention of any one of us is that in politics we will bring hope and development to Egbema kingdom. In doing this, we must be united. I believe when you have two or more people in a group, there will be differences in opinion. But we resolved it and move ahead.

“We should come together, so that together we can free ourselves. We should not overlook the enemies that we have – poverty, diseases, illiteracy,” he advised.

“He further restated his support for Lawuru, saying, “we will strengthen him to perform and bring results to Egbema kingdom. It is when we are united that we can form a very strong structure.

“A stakeholder in the party, Pastor Philip Gbasin, while noting the challenges that come with leadership, charged all party members, especially the youths to remember their “backbone,” maintaining that Egbema APC and people at large, will be better for the Move.

“A former secretary of Warri North APC, Fiyah Lelekumo, noted that with Chief Lawuru, APC’s search for solid leadership, has come to an end.”