James Ibori
By Ambrose Ologide, Warri
A Chieftain of Delta State ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief ( Hon) Richard Akpor Okoro has hailed PDP Warri Urhobo delegates in Warri South Constituency 11 for voting for former Governor James Onanefe Ibori’s Road Map to Peace in the last primary election for the Delta State House of Assembly seat.
Okoro who is an elder of the party in Edjeba Ward Warri South Local Government Area, made the commendation in a media chat with news men in Warri at the weekend.
He noted that the said road map to peace initiated by the former governor was aimed at ensuring peace between the Warri Urhobos and the Itsekiris immediately after the infamous Warri ethnic crisis.
Okoro who was a councillor and leader of Warri South Local Government Council Legislative Arm noted that in the road map to peace, Warri South Constituency 1 was meant for the Itsekiris while constituency 11 was meant for the Urhobos of Warri.
He therefore reasoned that the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Dr Michael Tidi contesting in Warri South Constituency 11 primary under the guise of being related to Urhobo was a breach of the peace initiative of former Governor James Ibori.
He insisted that Dr Tidi has always played his politics under the said peace initiative in constituency 1.
” Some Warri Urhobos have Itsekiri blood. This did not make them to contest in constituency 1.
“One of such persons is Chief Vincent Okudolor who is related to Okere Itsekiri and even resides in constituency 1 .
” But when he wanted to contest for the Delta State House of Assembly seat, he did so in constituency 11 because of Chief James Ibori’ s peace initiative. ” he added.
Chief Richard Akpor Okoro then applauded PDP Warri Urhobo delegates for voting for the said road map to peace.
He however also noted that some PDP Itsekiris leaders in Warri South Local Government Area were not in support of Dr Michael Tidi.
According to Okoro , the said Itsekiri PDP leaders knew that ” PDP Family in Warri South has really enjoyed peace and unity under the Chief Ibori’s Road Map to Peace ”
It would be recalled that in the results of the Warri South Constituency 11 primary , the incumbent member representing the constituency 11 , Hon Matthew Poko Opuoru scored 10 votes .
He was followed by Dr Michael Tidi with 6 votes and Muobo Bazunu came third with 4 votes.
