As the season of politicking gathers steam ahead the 2027 general elections, a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) political party in Delta State, High Chief Michael Johnny, has challenged politicians in the state, especially those within the fold of the Ijaw and the Itsekiri ethnic nationalities in the Warri Federal Constituency to not heat up the polity, but to stand up for the truth at all times in order to promote peace and unity, as well as attract developments to the Constituency.

The APC leader made the call over the weekend when he hosted a House of Assembly political aspirant of the APC party, Hon. Andrew Omagbemi Igban, and other stakeholders who were seeking his counsel and support, at his Effurun residence near Warri.

However, Chief Johnny, who is the Ibe-penadouwei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West, said the Itsekiris, who have occupied the House of Assembly seat since the creation of Delta State for five tenure, and also representing the Constituency in the House of Representatives at the national level, should allow the Ijaws as represented by Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor to continue in office come 2027.

According to the APC leader, if politics is played by politicians in the Constituency with the philosophy of "give and take" and in obedience to the truth, the Constituency will be more peaceful, united, and prosperous.

"I'm supporting Rt. Hon. Emomotimi, the Ijaw man, who should be allowed to also go for his third tenure, since the Itsekiri has gotten it for five straight tenure, and since the creation of democracy they are still in the House of Reps. So I will not support, but advise you to drop your ambition because it will cause disunity among us.

"Warri South-West is big enough to have like two constituencies so we won't have to be dragging ourselves in a very small similar issue. We are even supposed to be having two reps. It is because of this fight and misunderstanding that has made us not to get to where we are supposed to be. And do we as a people, leave this burden, pass it to our children to start to inherit what we have passed through, either in one way or the other?" he further asked.

"So the only thing I stand for between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri is the truth and the unity and peace. That is what I stand for every minute, every day. So I don't play the game the way others are playing it," he stressed.

Chief Johnny, who said his loyalty is to the truth, called on both the Ijaws and the Itsekiris to always dialogue rather than taking the path of conflict, so as to attract developments to the area.

"Politics is give and take. The only thing that will bring peace among us is TRUTH. And that is the one that I am owing both the Itsekiri and the Ijaw today. What is right is right. What is wrong is wrong. That is why I will never support the wrong thing. And so, instead of us to start to fight ourselves, I say we will begin to tell ourselves the truth so that peace will be among us. Ijaw and Itsekiri, we have to sit down as leaders; agree on things."

"People use crisis to benefit. I know what it has taken from me. The truth we don't tell ourselves is why we are destroying ourselves, and others are developing with it. Now, Ijaw and Itsekiri are having misunderstanding and will begin to misbehave. All the money we will gather, we use it to develop other places. So I won't be part of something that will bring misunderstanding and trouble to us. That is the area people do not like me. And I think I'm very much okay with that," he added.

View photos of the consultation visit here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AzFd3RdRj/

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