Why Manager remained in the Senate for 16years- Ijaw Elders

*Say rotation should take effect after 2019

The Ijaw Council of Elders in Delta State, otherwise known as Izon Okosutu say the Senator represnting Delta South in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, James Manager has remained in the Senate for almost 16-years, because Elders of Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko ethnic Nationalites “refused to stand” against it and “None of the Itsekiris showed interest in the past”.

Chairman of Ijaw Council of Elders, Delta State, Chief Bare Etolor in a remark shortly before the Ijaw position on rotation of elective political positions in Delta South Senatorial zone was presented to Itsekiri leaders, thanked “Itsekiri leadership for loving our son, James Manager more than us”.

From left: Barr. Sam Ikporekpo, Chief Julius Government, Chief Jonathan Ari, Chief Michael Odeli, Brig. Gen. Broderick Demeyeibo (Rtd.) Chief Clement Maleghemi, Chief Emmanuel Ebimami, Chief Bare Etolor, Chief Ayirimi Emami, Chief Isaac Jemide, Chief Brown Mene, Chief M.O.E Tiemo, Chief (Barr.) Robinson Ariyo, Prince Yemi Emiko, Mr. Alex Eyengho & Mr. Bunmi Ireyefoju

The Ijaw Council of Elders in their three- point recommendation, noted “given the obvious fact that all the processes leading to the 2019 elections by the various political parties are almost concluded presently, the rotation of the position of the Senator as among the three ethnic groups (Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri) should take effect after the present election, with the winner kick- starting the proposed rotation agreement”, adding, “except, if by a stroke of luck, any Ijaw candidate from any of the political parties wins, such a winner will serve only one tenure. But if winner emerges from either the Itsekiris or Isokos, such a person will by this proposed rotation arrangement run only two tenures, before passing to either of the two”.

The position of the Ijaw Elders which was made known Friday September 14 when they played host to a delegation of Chiefs from the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, came a week after the leadership of Isoko Development Union, IDU affirmed their support for Itsekiri candidacy as far as the senatorial position is concerned in 2019.

Chief Bare Etolor (left) presenting Ijaw Council of Elders’ position to Chief Ayirimi Emami

The Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Ayirimi Emami who led the Itsekiri delegation, thanked the Ijaw Council of Elders for acknowledging that Itsekiris love Senator James Manager, even as he quipped that there was Itsekiri before political parties, as such Itsekiri interest supersedes any  individual interest.

A Warri Chief, Brown Mene who presented the Itsekiri position as it affects the Senetorial Seat in 2019, traced the history of the senetorial rotation agreement to the first republic and asserted that they feel it’s the turn of Itsekiri to produce Delta South Senator in 2019.

While stressing that they “will demand this time that the representatative should be reporting to us as 3Is”, Chief Mene declared that Itsekiri leadership does not believe that their Ijaw counterparts sent James Manager to remain in the senate for this long.

Prominent leaders of both ethnic groups that attended the convivial engagement included: Chief Isaac Jemide, Chief Clement Maleghemi, Chief Micheal Odeli, Chief Robinson Ayriyo, Brigadier General Broderick Demeyeibo(Rtd.) MOE Tiemo, Chief Fred Anisa, Chief Julius Government, Chief Jonathan Ari and Chief Emmanuel Ebimami.