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By Oghenekevwe Laba
A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr James Akpojaro has challenged the people of Agbarho to unite and present a credible candidate for the post of chairman of the council in the forthcoming Local Government elections in the state, saying it is their turn to produce the local government chairman.
Mr Akpojaro an indigene of Agbarho who spoke to Urhobotoday on Saturday in Lagos argued that the demand has become necessary in order to end the perceived marginalisation of the Agbarho people in the running of affairs of the local government council.
“The Agbarho people have not produced the chairman of the local government in the past twenty two years. Since 1991 we have had twelve chairmen, seven of whom came from Ughelli, three from Orogun including the current caretaker Chairman, two from Agbarha and one from Uwheru. We cannot continue with the marginalisation of the Agbarho people,” he argued, just as he appealed to other communities in the local government to give Agbarho the opportunity to contribute to the development of the local government from the highest office in the council.
Continuing he appealed, “I am urging other communities whose sons and daughters have enjoyed the support of the good people of Agbarho in the past to reciprocate by supporting an Agbarho person for the post of chairman of the council in the next election.
“In October last year, the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, appointed Caretaker Committee Chairmen to run the twenty five local government area councils until new elections are held to fill the positions. The State Governor has also sent the names of nominees of members of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DESIEC), the electoral body that will organise the elections to the State House of Assembly for confirmation. The nominees are now waiting to be sworn in having been confirmed. With the confirmation of DESIEC members by the state House of Assembly, we expect that the elections will be held in no distant future.
“We are waiting for the inaugurations of the members of DESIEC which will kick start the process for the council elections in Delta state. So the Agbarho people should begin to set in motion their own process that will lead to the endorsement of the candidate of Agbarho origin.”
He however cautioned the Agbarho people to present a candidate that will be acceptable to other communities in the local government area.
“The chairmanship position will not be awarded to Agbarho. You have to work for it, win the primaries and the general elections. That is why I am challenging you all to unite behind a credible candidate that has the pedigree, contacts and the ability to raise the resources to secure our great party ticket and win the elections. In other words, Agbarho need to give us a candidate that is acceptable to other Agbarho people, other communities, the party and who is committed to improving the life and welfare of our people”.