Beyond the threat by the Egbema Ijaws of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State to make the entire council a crisis–torn area should an Itsekiri emerge next Chairman of the council, there are indications of a looming danger of a possible volcanic eruption in the entire three Warri Council Areas, including Warri South and South-West over the forthcoming council polls.
            Reports reaching Warri Mirror indicate that tempers are high in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over who flies the party’s Chairmanship flags in the three Warri Local Government Areas during the coming council polls. The believe in the political circle is that whoever gets the nod of the PDP to fly its flag or that of any other party in any local government poll in the State is as good as winning the race. This is because the PDP–controlled oil-rich Delta State organises the election.
            Thus, little wonder that Chairmanship aspirants of the PDP stock are scheming to the highest quarters and indeed having sleepless nights over who, among them, is fit to fly the party’s flag at the polls. One man who is certainly also having sleepless nights over the matter is the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan.
            Prior to the PDP Governorship primaries last year and the election proper on April 14, 2007, Dr. Uduaghan was alleged to have unwittingly committed the Itsekiri into an unwritten agreement with the Ijaws of Warri South-West and Urhobos of Warri South that the Chairmanship seats of the two councils would be reserved for them, willy-nilly. This, we further gathered, was part of the many concessions Uduaghan made on behalf of the Itsekiri, albeit without their consent, for him to win the Governorship race.
            This, perhaps, explains why Uduaghan being the party leader in the State with three Warri Local Government Areas as his primary constituency, was said to have passed an order to the rank and file in the party, particularly Chairmanship aspirants in the areas that he would select the PDP flag-bearers for the councils in the coming polls. This, he intends to do without an open party primaries.
            However, this task seems easier said than done as the Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw in the council areas are spoiling for war should the Governor make the wrong choice in any of the council areas. Thrice the Governor has surmourned all the Chairmanship aspirants to his hometown in Abigborodo for the exercise, and thrice he lost the courage to tell the aspirants the three men he has penciled down for the polls.
            As things stand, the Governor though may have made up his mind on the three men that will preside over the three Warri Local Government Areas the next three years, he seems to still be weighing the implications should his choice not go down well with the majority. For now, the heat is on. Perhaps, a look at the three Warri Local Government Areas will suffice at this point.
Warri South LGA: Without mincing words, Governor Uduaghan has penciled down Urhobo-born Mofe Edema as the next Chairman of this council area. This, we gathered, has also received the backing of Dr. Joseph Otumara, a one-time Chairman of the council and now the State Health Commissioner, to the chagrin of some of his boys, who are eyeing the office.
            As far as the PDP ticket is concerned, other Chairmanship aspirants for Warri South like Victor Agbateyiniro, Mr. Abrakata, Omimi Esquire, Eugene Ebisin and a host of others, are only wasting valuable time and resources. This position certainly does not go down well with the Itsekiri people, who view the act as the final selling of the Warri South Local Government Area, the seat of the Warri Monarch, to the Urhobo, through the backdoor. It is not clear if Chief Benjamin Okumagba, outgoing President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), is at home with the choice of his kinsman, Mofe Edema, who openly identifies more with the Itsekiri people; but the selection of one of the Okumagbas as Commissioner representing Warri South Local Government Area in Uduaghan’s cabinet may have boxed the self-styled ‘Otota’ of ‘Idimi-So-Bo,’ Okere, into a tight corner. Moreso, through the untiring efforts of Former Governor James Ibori and incumbent Governor Uduaghan, the Urhobo of Warri South have been able to permanently secure the Warri South Constituency II seat for themselves in the Delta House of Assembly. What more can a settler elements require in an area? For real, the losers in Warri South as things stand today are the Itsekiri, the landlords!
Warri North LGA:  Obviously, the Itsekiri people have been boxed into this local government area, as it is the only council area they can claim to have a firm grip over, as things stand today. This, perhaps, explains why the two Commissioners (Dr. Otumara and Mrs. Tsola Williams) in Governor Uduaghan’s cabinet are both from this council area. In fact, the duo are cousins from the Olomu stock. While Dr. Otumara is from the Ebisanine Olomu family line, Mrs. Williams is from the Nanna Olomu family line.
            With this setting, it is clear that what the Egbema Ijaws of the council area are doing is tantamount to noise and seeking unpopular political relevance. The question, however, is who among the Itsekiri aspirants is fit enough to fly the flag of PDP in the council polls, and possibly emerge the eventual Chairman for the next three years?
            The discredited incumbent Chairman of the council area, Mr. Micheal Diden (a.k.a Ejele), has brought forward one Toju Ebosa as the man to succeed him in office, and obviously to cover his bad tracks. This has enjoyed the blessings of Ejele’s Man Friday, Mr. E.K. Gbragada, who, we gathered, is Ebosa’s uncle. The Ejele camp, to impose Ebosa on the people of Warri North at all costs, is doing everything within its reach.
            As at today, we gathered that though Governor Uduaghan has narrowed down to Ebosa and Tosan Desmond Oyowe, he, however, as at press time, has refused to make public his final choice.
            Warri Mirror findings revealed that while the masses are solidly behind the aspiration of Mr. Oyowe, they would hear nothing of Ejele and his group. To them, Ejele was a disaster as Chairman of Warri North; and as such, does not have any moral ground to bring his successor. The question, however, is, does Mr. Oyowe or any other aspirant not from the dreaded Ejele political camp have the financial war-chest and thuggery ability to fight the political battle? The answer is no, except Governor Uduaghan stand his ground or by a deus exmachina!
Warri South-West LGA: Save for last minute change which may lead to another round of crisis particularly in the riverine areas, Uduaghan has long before now conceded the chairmanship of this local government area to the Ijaws. In fact, like in the Warri North, the question is, who among the Ijaws should get the plum job? Should it be one of the Orumoni brothers or the criminally-minded Tompolo, who is sponsoring his younger brother, George?
            However, some Itsekiris are saying no to this lopsided arrangement. They argued that by Executive fiat as against the position, even till date at the federal level, former Governor Ibori moved the headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area from Ogidigben to Ogbe-Ijaw. They also stated that the only Commissioner from Warri South-West in Uduaghan’s cabinet is an Ijaw man. Moreso, Chief Wellington Okirika, an Ijaw man from the local government area, is occupying the Chairman position of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), which by law is reserved for the Itsekiri.
            It is therefore not shocking that some Itsekiris see the next Chairmanship position of the local government area as a do-or-die affair for them. Leading the pack of those eyeing the plum job is former Chairman of the council, Hon. David Atikpekpe, who takes his campaign very seriously. But will Dr. Uduaghan renege on his promise to the Ijaws? The result may be crisis; and it is not clear if the Itsekiri are prepared for another round of genocide or pogrom, which the Ijaws meted out to them some years back.
            In the final analysis, the coming council polls in the three Warri Local Government Areas if not properly handled, may lead to a full-blown crises, which will have a snow-ball effect across the State. Is the State prepared for this? Governor Uduaghan has the answer!