The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, and other prominent Ijaw leaders have led the people to endorse President Bola Tinubu and the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, as their candidates for President and Governor in 2027.

The Ijaw leaders and the people in their thousands made the resounding endorsement at a grand reception in honour of the Governor of Delta State, organized by the Delta Ijaw Political Leaders, at Bomadi, the headquarters of the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, on Wednesday.

The motion to endorse the President and the Delta Governor for a second term was moved by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Julius Pondi, and seconded by state legislator, Hon. Kenneth Oboro, and subjected to a voice vote by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, thanked his Delta State counterpart for making deliberate moves to develop Ijaw land.

Prominent state political leaders such as Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the Administrator of the President Amnesty Programme, who attended the event commenced Oborevwori for his developmental exploits in the Ijaw area of the state.

The Ijaw leaders also honoured the Delta State Governor, Oborevwori with the title, "Izon Ebimieowei of Delta State."

The elated Delta Governor, Oborevwori thanked the Ijaws in the state for title conferred on him, saying he felt like an Ijaw man with their massive support for his administration.

Governor Oborevwori, who stated that his administration has spent over N400 billion in the development of Ijaw communities promised to reciprocate with political appointments and development projects in the area.

He said: "I feel highly honoured to be here among the Ijaw nation. For me, this is the highest honour and I appreciate it. The atmosphere and reception feel like homecoming. Today I feel like an Ijaw man.

"This event is not a suprise to me. God used the Ijaw people and other ethnic nationalities to bring me to office. I cannot forget how the Ijaw nation, at every given time, stood by me during my period of travail. It gave me strength.

"I thank the Ijaw people for the award and for endorsing me and Mr. President. I do not take it for granted. I will reciprocate that love through appointment and infrastructure development."

The event was also attended by thousand of the members of the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement 2027, who stormed the River rine community in large numbers.

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Denis Otuaro, who led the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement 2027 to the historic endorsement, urged the people to reward purposeful leaderships that have resulted in amazing developmental impacts in the Niger Delta.

Otuaro said that President Tinubu has demonstrated in unambiguous terms that he means well for the people of the Niger Delta through the bold high-ticket projects his administration is executing in the region such as the coastal road, his support for the Niger Delta Development Commission, the President Amnesty Programme, among others.

The Presidential Amnesty boss said that the President deserves the opportunity of a second term to continue with the life-touching developmental efforts in the region.

He urged Ijaw people to ensure that the President’s demonstration of love and sustained concern for the region are accorded the deserved and expected reward in 2027.

He said: “I urge all the members of the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement 2027 to continue with the zeal we have demonstrated here to support Mr President to succeed in the his bid for a second term in office.

“I must also say that as Ijaw people, we have done well today by demonstrating our unflinching commitment to the support for this President who has shown a fatherly love and disposition to our people.

"As Ijaw people, we believe the President has done well for our people and we should reciprocate by ensuring the continuity of this administration that has been good to our people in several areas.

“Also, I align with what our leaders have said that the state Governor has shown exemplary love and commitment to addressing issues of concern in the Ijaw areas of the state.

“As the Governor mentioned in his speech, a leader who initiates and executes projects worth hundreds of billion in our area deserve our endorsement for a second term in office.

“This is our own way of saying thank you to our President and the Governor who have done so well and have brought smiles to the faces of our people.”

The chairman of the reception central organising committee, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, said the event was organized as a mark of gratitude the Governor for his bold developmental efforts in Ijaw communities in the state. (The PUNCH)