By Ere Robinson Erebi
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!OTUAN, Bayelsa State — The National President of the Ogboin-Ebe Unity Forum (OEUF), Comrade Betebekurogha Ambaiowei, has called for the implementation of a political rotation framework for the Bayelsa State House of Assembly seat representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 1.
Ambaiowei made the call during a community consultative meeting organised by the forum in Otuan Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
He also urged the people of Otuan and other communities in Ogboin Clan to demonstrate their appreciation for the Bayelsa State Government’s support by backing candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
Speaking in his native Ijaw language, the OEUF president reminded community stakeholders of the popular saying that “blood is thicker than water”, stressing the importance of unity and collective action among the people of Ogboin-Ebe.
He reiterated the forum’s guiding slogan, “One Blood, One Movement, One Voice,” describing it as a rallying principle for the advancement of the clan.
Ambaiowei said the forum was pleased that Governor Douye Diri had responded to years of advocacy for political rotation in Southern Ijaw Constituency 1 by awarding the APC ticket for the state assembly seat to Dr. Coronation Edward Tokpo, an indigene of Otuan.
According to him, the candidacy presents an opportunity for Otuan to participate in a rotational arrangement intended to address longstanding concerns over the distribution of political representation within the constituency.
He argued that the contest should be viewed beyond the individual candidacy of Dr. Tokpo, describing it as an opportunity for Otuan to participate in the political rotation being advocated by the forum.
“This is your best chance and a time to demonstrate that you are tired of suffering. Tell everyone, ‘Otuan Coronated.’ Tell your unborn children, ‘Otuan Coronated.’ Tell the non-indigenes, ‘Otuan Coronated!'” he declared.
The OEUF president, however, clarified that the forum was established as a non-partisan organisation and did not formally endorse individual candidates.
He explained that its primary objective was to promote peace, unity and cooperation across Ogboin Clan, noting that disagreements over political rotation had created divisions among the people.
Ambaiowei also highlighted the candidacy of the member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Engr. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei, who is seeking re-election for a second term in 2027.
He urged the people of Ogboin-Ebe to consider both Dr. Tokpo and Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei as candidates from the clan, while encouraging peaceful engagement among communities with differing political interests.
“Coronation and Rodney are going to make laws for our benefit. They do not have executive powers to do everything we may expect from them. So far, in the House of Representatives, Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei has moved 18 motions and sponsored five important bills. That is the work people do in the National Assembly,” he said.
He further called for support for Rodney Ambaiowei’s re-election bid, arguing that the lawmaker’s legislative responsibilities should be assessed in the context of his role as a member of the National Assembly.
“Rodney has not done much to uplift our personal lives, but in the area of his calling, he has done marvellously well as a lawmaker. We are pleading with the people of Otuan that Rodney Ambaiowei and Coronation Tokpo are Ogboin projects. Let everyone spread the message,” he added.
OEUF PRESIDENT EXPLAINS FORUM’S MISSION
Speaking separately with EMTV News after the meeting, Ambaiowei said the forum was established to strengthen unity among the people of Ogboin Clan and promote a fairer distribution of political representation.
He said the meeting was convened partly to discuss the longstanding dominance of the Southern Ijaw Constituency 1 state assembly seat by Amassoma and to advocate for a rotational arrangement that would allow other communities to occupy the position.
According to him, the forum believes that sharing political opportunities among communities within the clan could strengthen relationships and promote a greater sense of belonging.
He also urged Ogboin voters to support Dr. Tokpo for the state assembly seat and Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei for the House of Representatives.
“We came to talk to our people that when that assembly seat is shared among the brotherhood, it will strengthen the bond of brotherhood. We equally came to remind our people that Rodney Ambaiowei is another candidate from Ogboin contesting against another candidate. Ogboin voters should rally round our son,” he said.
Ambaiowei also commended Governor Diri for the decision to award the APC ticket for the state assembly seat to a candidate from Otuan, describing it as a step towards implementing the rotation agenda.
“We appreciate the governor because it takes someone with the will to share this assembly ticket with Otuan. The governor’s decision to give the ticket to Coronation, someone from Otuan, to initiate the rotation agenda is something we appreciate,” he added.
TRADITIONAL LEADER CALLS FOR SUPPORT
The Prime Minister (Bebe ere-owei) of Ogboin Kingdom and a member of the OEUF, Chief Adolphus Munamuna, also called on the people of Otuan to support the APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
He said Governor Diri’s administration had undertaken projects and initiatives that, in his view, had benefited Otuan and Ogboin-Ebe generally.
Munamuna maintained that electoral support for the governor’s party candidates would be a way for the community to express its appreciation for the government’s interventions.
“In summary, the message is that we should vote massively for the candidates of the ruling party, especially those who have the blessing of our governor, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, because he has done so much for Otuan in particular and Ogboin-Ebe in general,” he told EMTV News.
He specifically urged voters to support Dr. Coronation Tokpo for Southern Ijaw Constituency 1 and Hon. Engr. Rodney Ambaiowei for Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency.
“Now, our love for the governor would be confirmed by our massive votes for Dr. Coronation Tokpo into the Constituency 1 seat in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and for Engineer Rodney Ambaiowei in the House of Representatives,” he said.
COMMUNITY LEADER HIGHLIGHTS PROJECTS
A prominent Otuan community leader and former executive member of the Ogboin-Ebe Unity Forum, Elder Abel Neki, said the meeting was intended to sensitise Otuan residents and the wider Ogboin Clan about the two candidates seeking elective offices in 2027.
He identified Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei as the candidate seeking another term in the House of Representatives and Dr. Coronation Tokpo as the APC candidate for the state assembly seat representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 1.
Neki urged the people of Otuan to support the two candidates, as well as other APC candidates, citing what he described as benefits delivered by the state government to the community.
“What we are pleading with the people of Otuan is to vote massively for these two candidates and APC candidates in general because Governor Douye Diri has done us so much good. He brought us a road, gave us the assembly slot and did many other things we cannot count,” he said.
He added that the community’s electoral choices would communicate its appreciation for the government’s interventions.
“We are all saying thank you to Governor Douye Diri, thank you to Rodney Ambaiowei, and thank you to Coronation Tokpo for coming to represent us. We are asking all Otuan people to vote for these candidates so that the governor will also know that his gift is not in vain,” Neki stated.
OEUF DELEGATION VISITS OTUAN MONARCH
Earlier, the Ogboin-Ebe Unity Forum delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Amananaowei of Otuan Community, His Royal Highness, Engr. Christopher Nana-Okoto, at his palace.
The visit was intended to inform the traditional ruler about the forum’s activities and its engagement with communities within Ogboin Clan.
During the visit, HRH Engr. Nana-Okoto and other traditional and community stakeholders expressed support for the political rotation initiative being promoted by the forum.
Those present included High Chief Adolphus Munamuna, identified as the Bebe Ere-Owei of Ogboin Clan; High Chief Ebikaboere Mathew Martinez; Elder Indorou Albert Enemugha; Elder Abel Neki; and Mr. Ebikake Evire.
The engagement formed part of the forum’s wider consultations on political representation, community relations and the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
Kindly share
