Delta 2023: Oborevwori will help to fulfill Ijaw governorship agenda 2031 -Biakpara

Wing commander PY Biakpara (retd), a former INC vice/ president and a former commissioner, and Chairman PDP Delta South Peace and reconciliation committee, spoke with Congress newspaper correspondent Timi Black on Ijaw and Delta Youth Political Alliance, DYPA unveiling of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as the sole candidate in the state, except…

•Please tell us your name.

I am wing commander PY Biakpara (retd), a former INC vice and one-time INC president, and a former commissioner.

• You recently led Delta Ijaw nation to unveil Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as a sole Ijaw governorship candidate?

Yes, you are very correct. Yes, I did, having considered that the Ijaws can’t be sitting on the fence in this historical moment of the state and our nation.

• What inspired you to have made such moves when the Ijaw governorship demand was truncated?

Yes, two things are involved and the first one will shock you.
First, it was the right thing to do as Ijaw people. Historically, Ijaws were well-noticed in the governorship race, three Ijaw sons were in the race. Delta Ijaw nation lost out because the management process was faulty. Our failure to harmonize our house gave victory to Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori Francis. Especially at this point, we that are core PDP chieftains in the state were left with nothing but Sheriff. As PDP chieftain, you don’t expect us to sit on the fence, I have to carry my people to tread a part that will benefit them in the emerging new political government from 2023 to 2031. We have to strategize to be part of that government, not just be part of the government peripherally but be part of the government properly at the centre. Assuming I’m not in PDP but asked to look for a candidate that will benefit the Ijaws among the various governorship candidates, I will pick Sheriff Oborevwori because he appears to be better off. Again, being a core PDP chieftain, I had to plead with my people, please come and follow me, and thank God the turnout was massive. Not only PDP leaders but other leaders who were not PDP, all came. As personnel (referring to Congress reporter) were there and you saw the massive turnouts. I want to state that anybody that talked ill about the unveiling of the PDP governorship candidate doesn’t love the Ijaw nation.

• How do you describe the recent endorsement of Rt. Hon. Oborevwori as sole governorship candidate in Delta by Delta Youth Political Alliance, DYPA?

This is a follow-up of the Ijaw nation endorsement, and I want to say it was a wonderful thing that happened. The Ijaw Youths and other Delta youths need to include their voices. I commend the youths who followed suit because it was the right thing to do. I told those we care to listen that this gale of unveiling is yet to start. More unveilings will surface in subsequent times. The Youths endorsement is just the first after the Ijaw unveiling of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as the sole governorship candidate in the state. There will be more unveilings and endorsements from many groups in the coming days. I congratulate those youths who saw reason in what we did and also saw reason to be heard in making their input in the selection of new government in the state, once again I congratulated them.

• Would Sheriff help fulfill the Ijaw governorship agenda come 2031?

Let me remind you, this is not the first time Ijaw people have lost out in governorship primaries in Delta state, Ijaws lost out in 2015 when Orubebe contested. It was the same Ijaw sons who told us that it was not Ijaw’s turn to produce the governor in the state in 2015. The same people who want to be governor today were the same people who said it was not our turn. Why it is now that is our turn? Zoning is rotation, it is not Osusu as some may want to say. It was Ijaws to become governor in Delta south in 2007 but we failed to chest out and the smallest tribe among us produce the governor. Ijaw lost out because they were not united enough to produce one candidate. Secondly, they were not true to themselves. As we speak now Sheriff is the square peg in a square hole. He will support Ijaw to fulfill its governorship agenda come 2031. He will give Ijaw a better place and will do much better than what some Ijaw sons will do for the Ijaw nation in his government. Why do I say so because Sheriff is an Okpe man and equally an Uvwie man, and Uvwie people are Ijaw people. He was bred in the same terrain where Ijaw people are bred. He understands the Ijaw people, including their suffering and their developmental needs. With my analysis, among Omo-Agege, Gbagi, and Ogboru who will be more sympathetic to the Ijaw people?, the answer is Sheriff.

• Specifically, tell us one or two things Ijaw will benefit from Sheriff’s government.

In development wise, before Okowa became governor I was unable to drive to my home but today Okowa has constructed a road to my village, I can now drive to my home, it is not me alone but everybody on that axis can now drive to their homes on road. More works are ongoing, like the Ayakoromo bridge project, he said he will complete it before leaving office. So Sheriff having worked with Okowa for these years will provide more for Deltans in the North, Central, and South. He will give priority to education and youth empowerment, security, and health services in Ijaw land including more bridges and roads. I believe he will do more being someone who grew up in the state.