GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS

BEING TEXT OF A PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED IN WARRI TUESDAY OCTOBER 28, 2014 BY HONOURABLE ORITSEWEYINMI OMADELI, THE SUBSTITUTED PDP CHAIRMANSHIP CANDIDATE FOR WARRI SOUTH-WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014 DELTA STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLLS

Events in the last one-week, especially in the build-up to the just concluded Local Government polls in Delta State and its aftermath, particularly as it affects the controversial and last minute substitution of my name as the authentic PDP Chairmanship candidate for Warri South-West Local Government is most unfortunate, avoidable, unconstitutional and undemocratic to say the least.

While I want to once more use this medium to call on my teeming supporters both within and outside Warri South-West Local Government Area, particularly Ijaws and Itsekiris of Warri South-West to remain calm as well as law abiding as a result of my firm belief in the judiciary and the ability of the National and State leadership of my party, the PDP to re-Wright this injustice in a few days, permit me to set a few records straight:

1.    The one-tenure rotational Chairmanship between Ijaw and Itsekiri of Warri South-West Local Government Area as brokered by former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori between Ijaw and Itsekiri leaders in PDP as panacea to the protracted Warri crisis, which snowballed into the Niger Delta struggle, has no bearing with the Delta South Senatorial seat, which ethnic leaders (apolitical) of Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko (3Is) agreed in principle that should be rotational amongst them.

2.    The House of Representatives seat as far as Warri Federal Constituency seat is concerned has been the only Itsekiri ethnic nationality representation at the National Assembly, where Ijaws of Delta already have two and Isokos and Urhobos like other tribes in the state are well represented. Hence linking the Warri Federal Constituency seat to Warri South-West Chairmanship is most absurd and unreasonable.

3.    The Chief James Ibori facilitated Warri Peace deal in the past explicitly spelt it out that it had no jurisdiction over who represents the existing Warri South-West State Constituency, but canvassed for the creation of Warri South-West Constituency II (two) to accommodate the Ijaw interest.

4.    I must also stress that the last minute substitution of my name as the Warri South-West PDP Chairmanship candidate in the just concluded Local Government election against the wishes of the people is capable of causing a fresh crisis in Warri between the Ijaws and the Itsekiris.

5.    I strongly believe that reclaiming my stolen mandate is a matter of days, as I have instructed my lawyers led by Fiery Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo to seek interpretation in Court.

6.    I must once again stress that I believe in the ability of the National Chairman of my party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, who personally handed-over the party flag to me at Asaba and the State Government to reach a political truce on the way forward.

Thanks and God bless.

HON. ORITSEWEYINMI OMADELI

Attention: The President Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

The National Chairman, PDP

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan

The Delta State PDP Chairman

The National Security Adviser, NSA

The Chairman, PDP Warri South-West

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