Group under the aegis of Warri Urhobo Political Forum has advised Delta Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and Peoples Democratic Party leaders in the state against appointing former DESOPADEC Commissioner, Mr Mathew Poko Opuoru as Commissioner in his cabinet.
The group who hand over the warning in statement made available to URHOBOTODAY an online medium said there is allegation that a former Commissioner in Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s government, Dr Joseph Otumara, Itsekiri leaders and leaders of PDP are plotting to impose Opuoru as Commissioner on Okowa, warning that any attempt to execute their dastardly act would be highly resisted.
The group alleged that Mr. Matthew Opuoru does not have the requisite educational qualification to qualify him as a commissioner yet he was previously appointed by former Governor Uduaghan as DESOPADEC Commissioner, all to cause problem among the People of Okere-Urhobo Community in Warri.
In the statement jointly signed by Hon. Festus Ighereruo, Hon. Paul Jessa, Mr. Joseph Omosowhofa, Hon. Jude Igherebuo, Hon. Duke Baro, Hon. Steven Dolor, Hon. Harroson Awuri, Prince Odjuwu Okumagba and Femi Okumagba, the group accused Opuoro which they claimed was a thug to former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan as being disloyal to the PDP and leaders of the Party.
The statement alleged, “Mathew was a former commissioner of DESOPADEC. He specialized in thuggery and doing other dirty jobs for former Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan. He was compensated by Uduaghan and Dr Joseph Otumara as Special Assistant and later Commissioner for Delta State Oil Producing Areas (DESOPADEC) for being used to fight their course against Urhobos of Warri.”
The group accused Mathew Opuoru for engaging some feeble minded youths of Okere Urhobo community in Warri to blackmail and assassinate the image and character of Urhobo- Warri political leaders most especially the person of Chief Emmanuel Okumagba simply because he was not nominated by his people.
“To perfect his plan, he has resorted to the service of some gullible, bread and butter Okere Urhobo youths in the persons of former Community Development Committe (CDC) Okere Urhobo Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Eminokaju who was also appointed by the Urhobo Warri Political leader as his Personal Assistant when he was Chairman of SPEB,” the statement said, claiming that another surrogate of the Opuoro, Mr. Alex Eda, a former Local Government Transition committee member who benefited from the political and economic open handedness of Chief Emmanuel Okumagba were the same people Mathew Opuoru is using to fight the Urhobo Warri Political leader.
The group alleged that Uduaghan and Otumara do sponsor Mathew Opuoru to ferment problem in Okere Urhobo community in Warri.
“And that is what Opuoru and Otumara are still doing till today just because he wanted to be nominated and return as a commissioner,” group alleged, quering that in order for Opuoro to come back Commissioner must he blackmail and fight his people to achieve his aim?
As part of his alleged disloyal to constituted party authority, the group claimed Mathew Opuoro physically assaulted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Local Government Area Chairman, Hon. Amah Agbajor in December 2013 and insulted their political leader, Chief (Sir) Emmanuel Okumagba for having the temerity to appoint him Chairman of a committee to organize a reception by Warri Urhobos for Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Deputy Barr. Kingsley Otuaro before the gubernatorial election.
The group which also claimed that Mathew Opuoru spent 28 years of his life in the United state of America with nothing to show for it alleged, ”Is this the kind of person Deltans want as commissioner? Yet this is the person Joseph Otumara and some Itsekeris are sponsoring all just to cause confusion amongst the Urhobos of Warri.”
When contacted, Opuoru denied all the allegations. He said what is happening in the Okere community is a personality clash between him and Chief Emmanuel Okumagba.
As for not having a degree, he said that is not true, adding that he graduated from Hunter College in United States of America where he studied Community Management.