As politicians and stakeholders ponder zoning principle ahead of next year’s governorship election in Delta State, President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has accused the Urhobo of not respecting zoning arrangement.
Speaking with The Guardian in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, recently, Okaba recalled that the principle had started well with the three senatorial districts having it.
“As matter of fact, the people who are clamouring for this zoning have never respected it for once.
“There was no time that Delta Central did not bring somebody to contest the primaries, even when there was an understanding on zoning. So, why are they shouting?
“The Delta Central people, the Urhobo, have never respected zoning and even if you give it to them now, in the next dispensation, they will still contest in their numbers.”
He stated that there are some senatorial districts that have more than one ethnic groups, such as Delta South, where you have the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko; and Delta North inhabited by Ika, Ndokwa, Aniocha and Oshimili, with only the Urhobo occupying Delta Central.
