Gov Oborevwori, Urhobo nation’s choice in 2023 – Oghenesivbe
…Cleared by DC-23 Screening Committee, won in 21 LGAs
The Director General of Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has said that the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, was cleared by Urhobo Nation’s DC-23 Governorship Aspirants Screening Committee in February 2022, and subsequently emerged as governorship candidate in a free, fair and credible party primary.
Dr Oghenesivbe made this known on Friday, in a swift reaction to a trending allegation on social media platforms by one Dr Abel Dafioghor, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), alleging that Oborevwori was imposed on Urhobo nation as the PDP governorship candidate in 2023 by his predecessor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
The Bureau Chief stated that under the power rotation arrangement in the PDP, it was Delta Central’s (Urhobo Nation) turn to produce the governor in 2023, pointing out that a national committee, known as the “Delta Central 2023 Governorship Aspirants Screening Committee (DC-23)” was constituted to screen all governorship aspirants from Delta Central Senatorial District under the party.
He disclosed that a prominent leader of Urhobo Nation and astute politician, Senator (Chief) Ighoyota Amori, was elected to Chair DC-23, which gave credibility to the entire screening process, adding that in February 22, a special screening committee headed by a University Don, Prof Nyerhovwo Tonukari, conducted two comprehensive screening exercises.
Dr Oghenesivbe stated that at the end of the rigorous governorship aspirants screening exercise by DC-23 committee, three strong and popular aspirants emerged namely; Rt Hon Sheriff F.O. Oborevwori, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, as he then was, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, former Minister of State for Education, and lastly, Olorogun David Edevbie, a former Commissioner for Finance in Delta State.
He recalled that the names of three top aspirants namely; Rt Hon Sheriff F.O. Oborevwori, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Olorogun David Edevbie, were presented to Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, but the governor insisted that all aspirants of the party (PDP) should proceed to test their popularity at the party primary, including the three top DC-23 cleared aspirants, adding that based on the governor’s directive all governorship aspirants from Delta Central joined the party primary and at the end, Rt Hon Sheriff F.O Oborevwori emerged as the party governorship candidate in a televised free, fair and credible primary.
The Bureau Chief said Dr Abel Dafioghor’s allegation was unfounded, fallacious, baseless and calculated to mislead the public and the good people of Delta State, saying that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s predecessor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa insisted that all governorship aspirants from Delta Central Senatorial District under PDP must participate in the party primary to test their popularity and acceptability, which they did, and Rt Hon Oborevwori emerged as the party candidate, and subsequently won the Governorship election in 21 local government areas to emerged as governor of Delta State.
Dr Oghenesivbe cautioned Dr Abel Dafioghor to refrain from spreading unfounded allegations and falsehood, while urging Deltans and the general public to disregard Dafioghor’s unwarranted outburst and unprovoked attacks on constituted authorities.
“It’s shocking that a well informed and qualified medical practitioner like Dr Abel Dafioghor, would for reasons best known to him publish unfounded allegations against the immediate past governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and the excellent job DC-23 Committee did for the Urhobo nation prior to 2023 general elections.
“Okowa did not impose Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Urhobo nation in 2023. DC-23 screened all governorship aspirants and three top choices submitted to the Governor namely; Rt Hon Sheriff F.Om Oborevwori, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Olorogun David Edevbie. Okowa insisted that the three top aspirants from Urhobo nation must join other aspirants at the party primary.
“Governorship primary of the PDP was held under live coverage by national television stations, and at the end of the exercise, Oborevwori emerged as the party governorship candidate and subsequently won the election in a landslide victory.
“Dr Abel Dafioghor and his associates should desist from spreading falsehood and misleading information. We are not in a Banana Republic, we are citizens of a nation guided by values, laws, rules and mores.
“I urge the good people of Delta State and Nigerians by extension to disregard Dafioghor’s unfounded allegations,” Oghenesivbe said.
