Prominent Ijaw leaders, including the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, have led thousands of Ijaw people to formally endorse President Bola Tinubu and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for second terms in office.
The endorsement was made on Wednesday at a grand reception organised by the Delta Ijaw Political Leaders in Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, in honour of Governor Oborevwori.
The motion to endorse the President and the Governor was moved by House of Representatives member Hon. Julius Pondi, seconded by state legislator Hon. Kenneth Oboro, and subjected to a voice vote conducted by Speaker Guwor. The motion was carried by acclamation.
President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri, and other political leaders also attended the event. Governor Diri commended his Delta State counterpart for making deliberate moves to develop Ijaw land.
In recognition of his developmental efforts in Ijaw communities, Governor Oborevwori was conferred with the title “Izon Ebimieowei of Delta State.”
Responding, Oborevwori said his administration had invested over N400 billion in the development of Ijaw communities and pledged to reciprocate the support through political appointments and further infrastructure projects.
“I feel highly honoured to be here among the Ijaw nation. Today I feel like an Ijaw man. God used the Ijaw people and other ethnic nationalities to bring me to office. I cannot forget how the Ijaw nation, at every given time, stood by me during my period of travail,” the Governor said.
Otuaro, who led members of the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement 2027 to the event, urged the Ijaw people to reward what he described as purposeful leadership, citing President Tinubu’s investments in the Niger Delta through the coastal highway, the Niger Delta Development Commission, and the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“As Ijaw people, we believe the President has done well for our people and we should reciprocate by ensuring the continuity of this administration that has been good to our people in several areas,” Otuaro said.
The chairman of the reception’s central organising committee, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, said the event was convened as a mark of gratitude to the Governor for his developmental efforts in Ijaw communities across Delta State.
