IYC Backs Guwor, Affirms Ijaw Dominance in 6 LGAs in Delta

By Joseph Bienbo, Warri

The Apex Ijaw Youth Body, the Ijaw Youth Council Western Zone covering Delta, Edo, and Ondo States has declared as a statement of fact that Ijaws occupy six local government areas in Delta State.

Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor had made the declaration on Monday when Ijaw leaders hosted Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to a commendation gathering at Bomadi.

The occasion also witnessed the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Oborevwori as sole presidential and governorship candidates for the 2027 elections for Ijaws in Delta State.

Guwor, who presided over the adoption of the motion raised by Julius Pondi and seconded by Preyor Oboro, had emphasized that the endorsement of Tinubu and Oborevwori was in tandem with Ijaws domiciled in six local government areas of the state.

However, certain quarters, particularly within the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, have condemned the Delta Assembly Speaker’s remark as false.

Reacting to the development, the Information Officer of the IYC Western, Comrade Tare Magbei, exonerated Guwor of any wrongdoing.

Answering questions from newsmen in Warri on Thursday, Magbei attributed the attacks on Guwor as a handiwork of opposition and ethnic bigots to mislead the general public.

“What Mr Speaker said was nothing other than the simple truth, and every Deltan can bear witness to that. Ijaws solely own Burutu and Bomadi local government areas. Ijaw is the obvious majority in, Patani, Warri South West, and Warri North. And of course, we are the minority in Warri South. Who does not know that in Delta State?” Magbei quizzed.

“We know that the political season is here, and sometimes the opposition loves to whip ethnic sentiments. This is simply the handiwork of opposition and ethnic bigots in a bid to score a point against the Speaker.

“If not for the peaceful and hospitable nature of the Ijaws, we could have laid the sole claim to Warri Federal Constituency because we are the obvious majority. Whoever ventures into disputing these facts is a threat to peaceful coexistence,” Magbei added.

The youth leader stressed that “for anyone to attempt correcting Mr Speaker, who is the legislative head of Delta State, on such a basic matter shows that there is a negative motivation driving it.”

Magbei tasked the parties to focus on idea-based campaigns instead of campaigns of calumny against Guwor or any other interested persons.