By Austin Ogwuda
DELTA State governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has taken a swipe on renowned Socio-political Critic and Co-ordinator of Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC), Zik Gbemre for allegedly fanning the ambers of ethnic hatred by querying why he personally presented staff of office to the Asagba of Asaba, while he delegated his Deputy to perform similar assignment to the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri.
The governor said “it is the most nauseating bigotry displayed in recent history within Delta, as both Asagba of Asaba and Ovie of Agbara-Warri are recognized Kings of autonomous kingdoms”, pointing out that his (Governor) action was “not a damper in the line of duty”.
The governor spoke through his Executive Assistant, EA on Media, Norbert Chiazior.
Gbemre, had in a write-up titled: ‘IS THERE ANY LIMIT TO GOVERNOR OBOREVWORI’S HUMILIATION OF URHOBO NATION?’, stated that
“When, with all sense of justification, we say Governor Sheriff Oborovwori delights in mocking and bringing UPU, Urhobo Traditional Council, indeed Urhobo nation into disrepute, his goons and bootlickers say we are picking on him.
“November 28, Governor Oborevwori, standing like a loyal subject, presented Staff of Office to the Asagba of Asaba. The Asaba monarch received the staff conveniently seated on his royal stool. The Asagba was the one receiving, yet he, keeping through with his regal carriage, remained on his seat to receive from a standing governor.
“This was same Oborevwori I appealed to, urged his appointees and associates to tell him to please personally present Staff of Office to the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, knowing the significance of his physical presence to affirming Urhobos ownership stakes in Warri Township.
“Sheriff refused. His feedback excuse was that presenting Staff of Office was a duty he has delegated to his Deputy. It turned out he was only too big to present staff to an Urhobo monarch. He went to Asaba, bowed and presented to the Asagba of Asaba”, Gbemre added.
But in his response through one of his Media Aides, Chiazior Norbert, Governor Oborevwori disagreed with Gbemre’s postulations.
Said he, “While Oborevwori is daily dousing tension for public order, Gbemre is fanning fire upon Okuama.
“His highly inflammable invectives against the state government, military authorities cultural and community leaders are not only deepening the Okuama issue but expose him as a dangerous rabble rouser. All for ephemeral vainglory so petty to trend on Whatsapp and other social media handles.
“Open, fair and reasonable, Oborevwori is obviously more Urhobo than Gbemre. There is no charity in malevolent riot at home.
“Gbemre in his reckless faux pas also raised feeble alarm on Oborevwori for personally presenting Staff of Office to the Asagba of Asaba while he delegated his Deputy to perform similar assignment to Ovie of Agbarha-Warri.
“That he delegated his deputy for staff of office presentation to one, fulfilled all established constitutional conventions. He did not err in law or moral realm. Chieftaincy is the purview of deputy governor.
“The governor’s hand- over of staff of office to Asagba”, he further explained, “was simply honorific and symbolic. Asaba is the capital of Delta and seat of government.
Numero uno Delta soil .
“This reality, hard core in immutability is beyond the crass tribalism of Gbemre, which throttles his bitter anti-Asaba/Delta North sentiments, in pitiable xenophobia.
“But if he is in doubt about the sacrosanct status of Asaba, he should read the Constitution of Nigeria!
“Oborevwori, with his honour to Asagba, acted well and wise – an administrative savvy, pro-social and culturally sensitive governor.
“Incurable in his tribalistic spell, Gbemre also threw another reckless tantrum at the governor:
“He shunned all appeals to personally present Staff of Office to Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, a critical opportunity to reaffirm Urhobo ownership rights to Warri Township”.
“At peace time, the Urhobos, Itsekiris and Izons are co-existing in Warri after the 1990s destructive ethnic conflict, it is absurdly unimaginable that Gbemre is blowing a baleful divisive trumpet.
“Does he want to become Ferdinand Nehimana, harbinger of hateful rhetoric who incited the 1994 Rwandan genocide? Or Adolf Hitler of Nazi notoriety? While these posers are hyperbolic for a parrot-mouthed ordinary civilian,this stunt no matter the motive is condemnable, objectionable and atrocious.
Happily, Oborevwori is not Gbemre. He will never listen to him. He cannot wear his blurred ethnic binoculars, which magnify nothing but hate.
Delta North voted for Oborevwori because he is not a tribal leader. Delta Central supported him in spite of the betrayal of naysayers like Gbemre, because he is a good son of Urhobo land. Delta South backed him because he is accommodating.
“Oborevwori pledged at his swearing ceremony at Asaba on May 29th 2023 that he would serve as Governor of all Deltans.
“He has not changed!”, he stated.
