By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA

Frontline Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant for Delta State in 2023, Olorogun David Edevbie said supporting his ambition to occupy the ‘Dennis Osadebe House’ Asaba in 2023 is sending out the best eleven in a football competition.

Edevbie stated this today when he consulted traditional rulers in Delta Central at a meeting held at the palace of Ovie, Dr. Richard Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro 1 JP, The Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State.

He said he had the best experiences for the job. That with his experiences he does not need anymore training to govern the State perfectly.

According to Edevbie “You cannot have a Lion Messi and Christiano Ronaldo in your team and bench them in a competitive game. I am Urhobo best 11at this moment. I have all the experiences needed to govern Delta State effectively and I promise that I won’t let you down from the day I will be sworn in Governor.

“I am the most qualified to govern the State in 2023”. He added.

The Delta governorship hopeful who disclosed that he came to seek for the blessings of healthy long life and wisdom to succeed from the Delta Central Monarchs, noted that one can have all the academic qualifications but to lead humans he still needs the indigenous inner sense to accomplish all areas of leadership.

While noting that traditional rulers are integra part of government, that politicians are only holding power on behalf for, Edevbie said he would work with traditional rulers to achieve his set goals.

The highlight of the visit was individual prayers from the about twenty monarchs for God Almighty to grant and guide Olorogun David Edevbie to succeed in his desire to govern Delta and all that he requested for, which includes good health, wisdom, resources and peace.

By Tomi Wujoala

The Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olorogun Kingsley Esiso has said the party is excited about the vision and development plans of its frontline Governorship aspirant, Olorogun David Edevbie.

Esiso made the disclosure in Asaba on Monday afternoon at the PDP Secretariat when Edevbie visited the party’s State Executive Committee and Working to officially declare his intention to contest for the ticket of the party for the 2023 Governorship election.

Edevbie received a standing ovation from both members of the State Working Committee and members of the party present after he stated his vision and development plans for the state which includes improved power supply, combating insecurity, industrialisation, jobs and wealth creation, integrated social infrastructure development, integration of the riverine communities and upgrade of state institutions to be driven by information and digital technology, all geared towards creating a vibrant and robust economy for the benefit of Deltans.

Reacting to Edevbie’s presentation of his vision, the state party chairman said he was excited at Edevbie’s modernisation agenda and relates perfectly well with its feasibility as exactly what is needed in building a developed society.

“I am excited with Olorogun David Edevbie’s vision for the modernisation of the state and I want to thank him for coming up with the ideas,” Esiso said in elation.

“As a student of development, I am always happy to see ideas and plans like this because that is what we need for the development of our society. We need modernisation.”

The endorsement of Edevbie’s capacity to lead was first made by Chief Patrick Fovie, Chairman of Delta Central PDP who welcomed him to the event.

According to Fovie, Edevbie’s capacity is outstanding and he is someone any society can proudly send forward to act for it.

“Not all heads can carry a load and deliver it well to the end but we know that Olorogun David Edevbie has a good head and can carry the load and deliver it perfectly as Governor of our state.

“Edevbie has all it takes to lead Delta to greater heights. We therefore pray God to keep him in good health and grant him success to emerge as the Governor of the state because we know he will make Delta State greater than he will meet it.”

Director General of David Edevbie Campaign Organisation, Chief Clement Ufuani, who officially presented him to the State Executives and Working Committee held the audience spell bound when he reeled out Edevbie’s achievements in contribution to the development of the state and his pan-Delta disposition.

“When Olorogun David Edevbie was brought from an overseas corporation where he controlled hundreds of millions of pounds under his portfolio but when he arrived and was made Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in 1999, the state budget was a paltry N6.3b. The subvention of the Ministry of Education, to take care of all the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, for instance, was just N500,000. There was virtually nothing the state could achieve with that amount. But Edevbie was not discouraged.

“He got down to work, and by 2003 he had increased the state income from N6.3b to N60.2bn. That was how Chief James Ibori was able to achieve some of the development projects for which he is loved and hailed across various communities in Delta State.

“It is no surprise that subsequent administrations of Delta State always called him back to serve again as their Commissioner of Finance. It is also no surprise that he was appointed Principal Secretary to late President Umaru Yar’adua at the national level, a position by which he virtually administered the whole nation at that point in our history. I testify because I was by his ringside.

“He is extremely detribalised and pan-Deltan. He appointed me his Special Assistant without our knowing each other before. He simply based his judgement on my credentials. He further supported me to be appointed Commissioner for Economic Planning which split his ministry into two. He also recommended me for appointed as Special Adviser to the President. Yet he is from Afiesere in Ughelli and I am from Ubulu-Okiti in Anioma. His second Special Assistant when he was first made commisioner, Charles Nenyiaba, was also from Agbor. That is David Edevbie for you. He is not interested in where you come from or what language you speak. He believes in capacity to deliver on set goals and objectives for the development of the state. He is the kind of person of person our Delta needs at this time to navigate the state through the emerging global and national economic challenges.”

By News View

Olorogun David Edevbie received a massive boost in his bid for the Governorship of Delta State when the Anioma Congress, the supreme socio-cultural body of Delta North, hosted him, Thursday afternoon, in Asaba.

The event which held at the Palace of the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Professor Chike Edozien, had in attendance over 40 traditional rulers from various communities and hundreds of top Anioma political, professional and businesses leaders.

David Edevbie and his entourage who went to consult with the leadership of the Anioma nation was overwhelmed by the expression of love by the top leaders for him.

Presiding over the event, the Asagba of Asaba said the reception was necessary for them to hear from and access his agenda for the development of the state.

“Anioma is one people. We speak in one voice. The Anioma Congress is composed of the traditional rulers, the political, business and professional class. We are here to guide our people and when we speak, we believe we speak the mind of the people.”

After outlining his vision and agenda for the development of the state, members of the congress expressed satisfaction with his programmes and capacity to deliver, saying he would make a great Governor for Delta State.

Much like tacitly endorsing him, it was agreed that they would meet again with him immediately after the PDP primaries to work together for the progress of the state.

Obi Edozien also seized the opportunity to re-interate his belief that power should be zoned while also pointing out the need for governments to accord the traditional institutions the respect they deserve as custodians.

“Various groups in Delta came from the same source and are distributed into various zones. For us, the most harmonious way to share power is by zoning.”

The highlight of the event was the offering of prayers by the traditional rulers for Edevbie’s success in his bid and for his health and safety.

The prayer led by the Asagba himself was closed by the Ezi of Ezionum, His Royal Majesty, Ambassador Dr Roland Osanwuta (JP).

Also present at the event was former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Benjamin Elue.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State have been assured of a free contest and level playing ground for all aspirants in the 2023 general election.

Commissioner for Information in the state, Charles Aniagwu disclosed this at a news conference in Asaba as part of the resolutions reached at the stakeholders meeting on Tuesday in Asaba.

Aniagwu disclosed that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the State Party Chairman, Olorogun Kingsley Esiso urged contestants to continue to ensure they play by rules and avoid acts tantamount to undermining the existing peace in the state.

They reminded the contestants that they were all members of the same political family in the PDP and urged them to avoid acts that could bring disunity to the party.

He reiterated that the party had resolved to conduct free, fair and credible primaries for all elective positions, stressing that there would be no imposition of any candidate.

According to him, “Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the State party Chairman Olorogun Kingsley Esiso urged contestants to play by the rules and be fair in their campaigns and to respect the fact that we have a peaceful state.

“The political class and our brothers and sisters have given us the privilege of serving them do deserve the sustainance of this peace.

“The meeting urged all persons participating in the ongoing electioneering process to as a matter of duty, responsibility and respect for the electorate ensure that they do not engage in actions that are capable of undermining the peace that we enjoy today in the state.

“The governor and Chairman of the party also assured that there will be a level playing field for all aspirants

“As a government in Delta we will not engage in acts that will not inspire confidence on the part of our people.

“Everybody contesting will be given level playing field and nobody will be witch-hunted, nobody will be imposed on anybody in all the elective positions.

“They have assured that they will not be party to the imposition of any candidate,” he said.

Aniagwu dismissed online reports on former Governor James Ibori walking out on the meeting, saying that it was false and an unprofessional report.

He said that Chief Ibori duly addressed the meeting and commended the governor and the party, subscribing to the fact that its important for everybody to maintain the existing peace.

“Chief Ibori addressed the audience and because he had a flight to catch, he took permission from the governor to travel.

“He left having secured the permission of the governor and it is very uncharitable and unprofessional for anybody to say that he stormed out of the meeting.”

The Commissioner officially confirmed the resignation of nine Commissioners and other top government officials ahead of the 2023 general election.

Aniagwu said the officials resigned to run for various offices in the forthcoming general election, adding that their resignation was in compliance with Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022.

He said: “The electioneering process have began with the release of the timetable by INEC and with the operationalization of the Electoral Act, 2022 and this call for a whole lot of engagements.

“For us as a state, we are very much determined to observe and indeed work according to the tenets of the Electoral Act.

“More specifically, we are very much determined to give effect to Section 84(12) which provides that those who are appointees of government who intend to take part in the electioneering process starting from the party primaries will have to give way by resigning their appointments.

“On account of that, a number of members of the State Executive Council who want to pursue their political careers through some elective positions have also put in their resignations.

“I can confirm to you that no fewer than nine of the Commissioners would be taking part in the 2023 general elections and that means that nine of them will no longer be part of our meetings as members of the state executive council.

“There other persons who have put in their resignations because they are statutory delegates and that is to tell you the extent to which we are giving effect to the provision of that law.”