By Steve Seigha, Warri
The Warri Ijaw Political Forum has faulted the case filed against Chief Bernard Okumagba by Chief (Mrs) Rita Ilori on the ground that Chief Okumagba is not from an oil producing area.
The Warri Ijaw Political Forum in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Hon. Michael Oweikpodor made available to Daily Watch, stated that apart from the fact that the argument by Chief Rita Ilori does not hold water, the case was filed in bad faith. It is on record that Warri South Local Government Area is an oil producing Local Givernment Area in Delta state and the Okumagba family is not only from this local government area but very prominent members of the entire Warri federal constituency and Delta State as a whole.
‘‘If Chief Bernard Okumagba is not qualified to be Managing Director of the NDDC on the basis of his place of origin, who then is qualified? We wish to state clearly that the real reason for Chief Rita ilori’s opposition is not because of the weak argument of Chief Okumagba not coming from an oil producing area but her age long attitude of antagonizing neighbouring ethnic groups and communities. It is on record that same Chief Rita Ilori took the Ogbe-Ijoh people and Delta State Government to court over sitting of the headquarters of Warri South West Local government Council and failed from the High court up to the supreme court.’’ He said
‘‘Therefore, the case against Okumagba would suffer same faith. If Chief Rita Ilori is honest, why did she keep quite when Governor Okowa appointed Michael Diden, an Itsekiri to take over from Mr. Godwin Ebosa, another Itsekiri as Chairman of DESOPADEC in express violation of the DESOPADEC law which state that a person from a particular ethnic group cannot be allowed to succeed another same from same ethnic group as Chairmanof the Commission. Why didn’t Chief Rita Ilori take the Delta State Government to court over the illegal appointment of Hon. Michael Diden (Ejele)? The obvious reason is that the illegal appointment of Hon. Diden serves the ethnic interest of Mrs. Rita Ilori; hence she is quite.
‘‘Consequently, we call on Chief Illori to stop her promotion of ethnic hatred at her old age and do things that would promote ethnic harmony in Delta State. We also call on the National Assembly to screen and clear Chief Okumagba as the Managing Director of NDDC while calling on Deltans to support Okumagba to succeed.’’
