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Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, out-going speaker, Delta House of Assembly.

Indications, pointing to the jostle for who emerges as the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly in the forthcoming 8^th Legislative Assembly has commenced underground among the various tendencies in Urhobo land, with a group castigating and thumbing down the current leadership of the Assembly held by one of its sons, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

A statement from the meeting of Urhobo National Forum (UNF) under the leadership of one Chief Matthew Odiete, and made available to banneronlinenews.com, stated that the leaders made a case for the emergence of a new leadership in the Delta State House of Assembly and headed by an Urhobo, describing the current Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as “a polarizing figure, a lame duck and weak communicator.”

At the meeting said to have held in Sapele, in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta state, last Sunday, 7/4/2019, that dwelt on the presentation of the Urhobo position on the Speakership, the UNF leaders were said to have praised Chief James Ibori, Chief Ighoyota Amori, Chief Kingsley Esiso and other People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Delta Central for contributing greatly towards the party’s electoral fortune in the just concluded elections.

Urging the people to vote against Oborevwori, the current leader of the Assembly, the statement stated: “Let us do what is good for the collective interests of the Urhobo Nation.

“We believe that it ought to be possible for the next Speaker to come from Ethiope Federal Constituency.

“The current presiding officer of the House cannot aspire to be speaker for another term and neither will any Sapele, Okpe and Uvwie man aspire for the seat immediately after Oborevwori. It will be the turn of the good people of Ethiope Federal Constituency,” the leaders contended.

According to the statement, the Chairman of UNF, Chief Matthew Odiete said the meeting unanimously approved the member representing Ethiope West, Hon. Eriatake Ibori as the next Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

“We want someone that can navigate the House rules governing votes and floor debates and create a policy and political strategy for the ruling party. We want someone that can reposition the Delta State House of Assembly as a credible arm of government.”

Pointing out that the leaders also made a case for a female speaker of Urhobo personage, the statement stated: “The Ethiope West representative has the right resume and what Oborevwori critics are looking for. She will restore public confidence in the Delta State House of Assembly “

They described the member representing Ethiope West as a legislative tactician.

“The Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation has the political skills, policy grasp and work ethic to manage the Delta State House of Assembly. She knows how money gets appropriated and to get things done “

Speaking highly of Eriatake’s competence and the need for her to take the gavel, the statement stated: “The Ethiope West representative has not only become a pride for us in Urhobo land but a model for the entire black race and a leader whom the people are watching out for as the Governor of Delta State in the future “

The leaders argued that if the likes of the current Speaker were the only qualified people to lead the Delta State House of Assembly, then Delta State should not nurse any hope of moving from its present stage of development “

The leaders averred that they have designed strategies for the Ethiope West lawmaker to become speaker in June, 2019 at the commencement of the eighth Legislative session.

“The Ethiope West representative will stay faithful to the call and responsibilities. We expect robust relationship with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. She will never violate due process,” the leaders were quoted as saying.

Contacted for his reaction, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Dennis Otu told banneronlinenews.com to discountenance the story, saying that it is fake story, pointing out that no such meeting ever held.