…He stands a better chance to wrest power from the incumbent senator

By Isaac Olamikan

Comrade Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, President National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG), has endorsed Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Delta South Senatorial District as the best choice for the constituency in the 2019 polls.

He made the endorsement in his new year message to Itsekiri graduates all over the world.

Comrade Edema averred that “the 2019 general election is the beginning of a new political life cycle for the Itsekiri nation and as such we must be involved in how our economic wellbeing will be affected in the next four years.

“Today, the Itsekiri Nation is at a political cross road. It is either we remain the way we are or we move forward. We cannot afford to vote for candidates who will take us backward as that will only land us in political wilderness for another four years.

“The 2019 general elections is a choice between immediate financial gains and sustainable development; is a choice between Itsekiri interest and personal interest; is a choice between political jobbers and political capacity; is a choice between being anti-party and being anti-Itsekiri.

“Political parties will come and go but the Itsekiri Nation will remain. We need to make real sacrifice if the Itsekiri Nation is to remain politically relevant in the next four years.”

Going further, he said: “Our choice in the 2019 general elections will either lead to the completion of the Dredging of the Warri River or the suspension of the project; will either lead to the opening of the Warri and Koko ports or the continuous closure of those projects; will either lead to the commencement of work on the Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP) Ogidigben or the continuous hopelessness we face; will either lead to the passage of the bill for the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic Koko into law or the suspension of the bill; will either lead to the gazetting and revival of the $5million vocational training centre Egbokodo that is in a sorry state or the continuous sorry state.”

According to him, “a glance at recent headlines should tell you that this moment is really different. The stakes are quite higher.

“The consequences of any of us sitting on the fence are more dire. It is not that we have not had big elections.

“After several consultations with different interest groups and critical stake holders, I cannot deny the fact that amongst the four Itsekiri candidates, the immediate past governor of Delta State His Excellency Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan stands a better chance to wrest power from the incumbent Senator.”

He pleaded with “all Itsekiris contesting for the position of Delta South Senatorial seat, all Itsekiri graduates, Itsekiri students, Itsekiri youths, women groups, Itsekiri elders, Itsekiris all over the world, and the good people of Delta South Senatorial district to as a matter of national interest set aside personal ambitions, ethnic sentiments, and pecuniary gains to adopt Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan as their consensus candidate for Delta South Senatorial District.”