Youths of Ughievwen Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State say they will not accept anything short of the chairmanship seat in the forthcoming local government council elections in the state.

A few days ago, the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) fixed Saturday, July 13, 2024, as the date for local government elections when it finally released the timetable and schedule of activities for local government elections in the state.

Rising from a one-day political summit with the theme: “Repositioning Ughievwen Nation for Political and Economic Prosperity,” held in Udu Local Government Area, the Ughievwen youths, under the auspices of Ughievwen Youth Congress, in a communique, also insisted that it was their turn to produce the next chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Ughelli South Chapter.

The political summit which was part of the activities to herald this year’s Local Government Council Elections in Ughelli South LGA, addressed sundry issues that affect the place of Ughievwen Kingdom in the political equation of Ughelli South.

The summit, which was well attended by Ughievwen sons and daughters from all the communities and clans in Ughievwen Kingdom, reviewed various aspects of Ughievwen political travails against the backdrop of the LGA Chairmanship position of Ughelli South Local Government Council of which Ughievwen, over the years, had been allegedly shortchanged, and lamented what it called the total neglect and complete disregard of the zoning arrangement between Constituency I (Ughievwen) and Constituency II (Olomu, Ewu, Effurun-Otor, Arhavwarien and Okparabe).

In the communique issued after the summit and signed by the Ughievwen Youth Congress President, Mr. Peter Darah; Secretary, Clarkson Irhivwen, and the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dase Onajite, the youths said their claim to the two positions is premised on the zoning arrangement between Constituency One (Ughievwen) and Constituency Two (Olomu, Ewu, Effurun-Otor, Arhavwarien and Okparebe).

In their analysis, since the return of civil rule in Nigeria in 1999, Constituency I had held the chairmanship position of Ughelli South Local Government Council for 9 years, while Constituency II has occupied it for 14 years.

According to the breakdown for Constituency I, the chairmanship position of Ughelli South Local Government Council had gone to Dr A. P. Fovie for 3 years and 6 months; Rev Matthew Akporayen for 1 year and 10 months; Barr Dennis Djomah for 3 years and another 1 year and 4 months, bringing the total number of years spent to 9 years and 8 months.

Constituency II has been as follows: Barr. M.K. Emujakpor was chairman for 11 months; Hon. R. Ugherakpoteni, 5 months; Hon. Josephine Oduaran, 2 months; Chief Vincent Otidi, 1 year and 7 months; Chief Anthony Oviri Uto, 1 year and 10 months; Hon. Paul E. Etaga, 3 years, and Dr Richard Kofi, 6 years of two tenures, which makes it a total of 14 years.

For the seat of chairman of Ughelli South Chapter of PDP, the Ughievwen Youth Congress in its analysis stated that Constituency I (Ughievwen) had Chief Hon. Michael Djegbe Oshetigho for 8 years on two tenures of 4 years each.

While Constituency II (Olomu, Ewu, Effurun Otor, Arhavwarien and Okparabe) held the local government area party chairmanship for 18 years and 1 month, with Chief Atsangbe 3 years; Late Chief Amos Itihwe, 6 years; Chief Sam Obomohwoyeren 1 year; Chief Vincent Oduaran, 4 years and Chief Francis Aguonigho, 4 years.

“Thus, arising from the foregoing, the summit resolved that for justice, fairness and equity in Ughelli South LGA, Constituency I (Ughievwen) should be allowed to complete its outstanding Chairmanship terms as fulfilment of the zoning arrangement in Ughelli South Local Government Council, as anything short of this will be fully resisted by all youths. The summit therefore called on all God-fearing leaders of Ughelli South and elsewhere to support the justifiable demand of the peace-loving people of Ughelli South Constituency I (Ughievwen).

“That for justice, fairness and equity in Ughelli South LGA, Constituency I (Ughievwen) should be allowed to complete its outstanding PDP Local Government Chairmanship tenures as a fulfilment of the zoning arrangement in Ughelli South Local Government Council, as anything short of this will be fully resisted. The Summit also called on all God-fearing leaders of Ughelli South and elsewhere to support the justifiable demand of the peace-loving people of Ughelli South Constituency I (Ughievwen).

“The summit is not unmindful of the political appointments in Ughelli South. To this end, the summit contends that all appointable positions are at the discretion and prerogative of the Governor of the State, which are exclusively different from the political structure at the LGA level which the political ancestors in the Ughelli South have equitably delineated for peaceful coexistence of the groups in the LGA over the years.

“To this end, the local Government Council and PDP Chairmanship positions are electable, tenured positions duly recognized by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and should not be traded on petty sentiments. Where a zoning arrangement is agreed upon by a group, (As enshrined in the PDP constitution) it should be respected. The Summit therefore called on all God-fearing leaders of Ughelli South to support the justifiable demand of the peace-loving people of Ughelli South Constituency I (Ughievwen),” said the youths of Ughievwen Kingdom in the communique.

The youths at the summit agreed that Ughelli South is one big political family that has remained steadfast to the ideals of the PDP and will continue to deliver on all political fronts but vowed to resist all attempts to make Ughievwen a Second Fiddle in the local government area.

They expressed dissatisfaction over the continuous short-changing of Constituency I (Ughievwen) when it comes to the two chairmanship positions in the local government area despite its ‘62% voters’ strength,’ abundant endowments of human, land mass and natural resources, as well as a standing zoning arrangement between Constituency I (Ughievwen) and Constituency II (Olomu, Ewu, Effurun Otor, Arhavwarien and Okparabe). (Delta State News Bulletin)

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