Leaders of Okere-Urhobo kingdom, Warri, have rejected the proposal released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for the delineation of Wards in Warri Federal Constituency, saying they were shortchanged in the recommendation released to stakeholders, particularly as it affects Warri South Local Government Area.
Former member of Delta State House of Assembly and Special Adviser on Environment to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Hon. Matthew Poko Opuoru, who was among Okere-Urhobo leaders that addressed newsmen in Warri, Warri South local government area of Delta State on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction with the INEC’s controversial recommendation, saying: “We have the population, the voters’ strength as far Warri is concern.
“I strongly believe that Okere-Urhobo kingdom, has the most populated area in Warri South and our boundaries are beyond imagination. We should have at-least four wards.”
Hon. Opuoru, who is the Deputy Leader of Warri Urhobos in PDP, noted: “Let me categorically state that we have no problem with the Ijaws, Itsekiris and Agbarha-Warri. INEC must crosscheck their data, ensure that the wards reflect population.
“In Okumagba II, we have 37 units that can be split into two wards, in Okumagba I, we have 32 units and the population in Okere-Urhobo kingdom is humongous. We are asking for equity.”
Popular Okere-Urhobo Chief and former Leader of Warri South Legislative Arm, Hon. Jude Onovughe Igerebou, who also addressed newsmen asserted: “We reject the ward delineation done by INEC in Warri South.
“We the people of Okere-Urhobo in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, express our utmost disappointment and dissatisfaction over the ongoing ward delineation in Warri South and we reject it in its entirety, because it was not properly done. Our places were not properly captured and there were too much abnormalities in the proposal.
“We are calling on the authorities to handle the issues properly, because there is a saying that he that wants equity, must go with clean hands.
Member of the Delta State Public Procurement Board, Chief Venture Daniels Evwherhamre, on his part, averred: “It is very obvious that we have been shortchanged. We have the population.
“We proposed six wards and now they are giving us one. It is not acceptable by us in Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, we reject the proposal.
“We are asking the authorities to go back and look into our proposal and give us what we deserve. They should capture the area properly.”
Another Okere-Urhobo leader, Amb. Duke Ufuoma Barho, stated: “Okere-Urhobo kingdom has the population. We have shown to INEC before now that we have the populations and the boundaries. INEC came and brought out what we didn’t propose.
“We are appealing to INEC to go back to the proposal we presented to them, because we have all what INEC needs to create extra wards and units.”
( Fresh angle international)
