Ethiope Politics: Forum Leaders, Amori Not at War with Ibori – Oghenesivbe
It is essential to note that Senator Dr Ighoyota Amori and leaders of Ethiope Federal Constituency in Delta State are not engaged in any political conflict with former Governor Chief James Ibori or his daughter, Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, the former federal lawmaker
Rather, the leadership of the Forum and PDP are emphasizing that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should conduct a by-election within a reasonable timeframe to fill the vacant seat, as mandated by law, due to Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu’s unlawful defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq, Publicity Secretary of Ethiope Federal Constituency PDP Forum, concurred with the party’s stance and that of Forum’s Chairman, Senator Dr. Ighoyota Amori, stating that certain misinformed individuals are preoccupied with name-calling and casting aspersions at Chief Amori, while the facts at issue are clear enough for a layperson to comprehend.
He stated that Chief Ibori and Senator Amori would maintain a high level of respect for each other, emphasizing the need to distinguish between politics and personal relationships, friendships, and community solidarity, and pointing out that events in Ethiope Federal Constituency were driven by politics rather than emotional considerations.
Dr Oghenesivbe disclosed that Chief James Ibori invited the leaders of Ethiope Federal Constituency to his Oghara residence before the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections, and requested that they permit his daughter, Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, to serve a single term as a member of the House of Representatives.
He recalled that after extensive deliberations, Chief Ibori successfully convinced the leaders of Ethiope Federal Constituency, and they collectively resolved to work diligently to ensure Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu’s victory at the polls in 2023, which resulted in her securing the federal seat in a landslide victory due to the rigorous campaigns and electioneering strategies employed by PDP leaders, party faithfuls, and supporters.
The Forum Publicist observed that Ibori’s defection from PDP to APC was and remains a calculated political conspiracy by certain individuals to undermine the agreement reached at Chief Ibori’s country home in Oghara prior to the 2023 general elections, a development that constituency leaders perceived as an unscrupulous move to deny Ethiope East Local Government Area its turn under the PDP at the Federal House of Representatives, come 2027.
Dr. Oghenesivbe assured that the Senator Amori-led group, with the full support of PDP Delta, will take necessary steps to ensure that the vacant PDP seat at the House of Representatives is filled by a PDP member, emphasizing that the party’s stance does not imply that Forum leaders are engaged in a political dispute with Chief Ibori or his daughter, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu.
He emphasized the need for political gladiators to separate politics from morality and mordain issues, saying that what’s going on in Ethiope Federal Constituency is purely politics and has nothing to do with sentiments or personality clash as some persons or group of persons may want the public or constituents to believe.
“The resolve of PDP Delta and leaders of Ethiope Federal Constituency PDP Forum to reclaim our seat at the Federal House of Representatives has nothing to do with personality clash.
“It is neither a political warfare with Chief James Ibori nor his beloved daughter, Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu. It’s purely politics, nothing more and nothing less. Chief Ibori is our amiable former governor, while Hon Erhiatake is our daughter and sister, no hard feelings. It is important that we play politics without bitterness and without name calling.
“As a former governor of Delta State and founding member of PDP, we respect and appreciate Chief James Ibori. There is nothing like political father Christmas in politics, and Chief Ibori understands the terrain very well.
“Our mission as a Forum for PDP Delta is to take back our mandate after the defection of Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu from PDP to APC as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, as well as invoke the Court Affidavit deposed to by our former representative at the National Assembly, wherein she solemnly agreed to vacate PDP seat upon defection to another political party. This is the fact in issue, not a political warfare.
“We are not, and cannot be at political war with our amiable former governor, Chief James Ibori, and cannot also be at political war with our former member representing the good people of Ethiope Federal Constituency, Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu. We want our seat back, it’s vacant at the moment,” Oghenesivbe affirmed.
