…as group canvasses support for Augoye’s governorship ambition
As the race for 2023 elections gradually gathers momentum, a political pressure group in Delta State known as Delta Great Movement (DGM) has asserted that the Okpe people of Delta Central Senatorial District should produce the next Governor of the State.
The political pressure group made the assertion in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State on Tuesday during its inaugural meeting that was tagged: “Unveiling Project Augoye 2023: A Clarion Call to Service”.
Speaking during the event, Dr Matthew Kwode, State Coordinator of DGM asserted that out of the three federal constituencies making up Delta Central Senatorial Districts, only the Okpe/Uvwie/Sapele/ federal constituency was yet to produce Governor.
While appealing to stakeholders, traditional rulers, political and thought leaders across the State, Kwode stressed that owing to the zoning arrangements of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), it was only fair, equitable and just for Okpe, being the largest in the constituency, to produce the next Governor of the State.
“We have been going round the State to appeal to all the leaders across the State. That was a campaign we started on the 12th of August 2020 to appeal that the rotation should start again with Delta Central.
“We are of the view that Delta Central has three federal constituencies, namely: Ughelli South/Ughelli North/Udu federal constituency; Ethiope West/Ethiope East federal constituency and of course, Okpe/Uvwie/Sapele/ federal constituency.
“Out of these three federal constituencies, it is only Okpe/Uvwie/Sapele federal constituency that is yet to produce a Governor.
“Therefore, in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice, this group, Delta Great Movement, is appealing to all and sundry to allow Okpe to produce the next Governor of Delta State come 2023,” Kwode said.
Meanwhile, the State Coordinator of DGM revealed that the group has endorsed the governorship aspiration of the State immediate past Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye.
Reeling out the qualifications and achievements of Augoye, Kwode said the decision to endorse the immediate past Commissioner for Works for Governor was taken after due consideration.
“There is a notion that the Okpe people, even though we have decided as a group to go round the State to appeal to all and sundry that the Okpe should produce the next Governor, but we have to also indicate interest because the governorship is not an appointment.
“Therefore, the onus lies on the Okpe people to signify interest in contesting the gubernatorial election. On this note, we have gone into the drawing board, and we observed that one very notable son of the Okpe enclave, Chief James Augoye has indicated interest.
“Augoye is accessible and acceptable to all Deltans, making him fit and proper to govern Delta State. Our focus is based on the affirmation, and other factors, that we have further decided to call on Chief James Augoye to contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
“It was a very hard puzzle but we arrived at this quadratic puzzle using various exponential factors through hard combination, permutations, alignment and realignment to conclude on Chief James Augoye as the fit and proper person to build and consolidate on the democratic dividends of His Excellency, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa led administration.
“Augoye will ensure continuity and strengthen the landmark achievements of the PDP in Delta State,” Kwode said.