POLITICS is an interesting game. In Nigeria, there are people who have been in the game for many years and are well grounded in politics. The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is one man that can be singled out as a rare breed in the political circles.
Apart from having his tutelage from elders who are seasoned in politics and administration, Okowa cut his political teeth as an appointee when he became the Secretary to the local government Council and moved steadily up the ladder as Chairman of Council, Commissioner, Secretary to the State Government, Senator and, eventually, as Governor of Delta, a state described severally by people as mini-Nigeria based on its multi-ethnic nature. Dating back to the military era, most people believe that whoever can govern the state successfully, can, as well, govern Nigeria.
It is to the glory of God that Governor Okowa can be described as a man who has successfully governed the state since its creation in 1991 without a hitch. Governor Felix Ibru’s administration was short-lived as it was truncated by the military – the administrations of Ibrahim Kefas, David Dungs and other Military Administrators of the state were turbulent too. It was during the military era that we had the “Warri war.”
The coming of Chief James Ibori as the Governor of the state in 1999, doused tension somewhat, but he was bugged down by a lot of litigations to the extent that Deltans were shuttling between Asaba and the Appeal Court in Benin-City and, later, the Supreme Court in Abuja.
Yours sincerely was in the convoy of Governor Ibori’s Deputy, Chief (Sir) Benjamin Elue, as The Pointer Newspaper’s Correspondent and saw what transpired. At a stage, Chief Elue was whisked to Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja, for alleged gun-running.
The administration of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was also very turbulent. As a matter of fact, it is on record, that as Governor he had more than 60 cases in court arising from the gubernatorial exercise that brought him to power, more than any other Governor in the country’s history. At a point, his administration was judicially halted midway; and, he had to go for a rerun where he emerged victorious.
Therefore, one can sincerely thank God that Dr Okowa is having a smooth ride as Governor. Whatever magic wand he is applying – road construction in all nooks and crannies of the state, spread of political patronage to qualified Deltans, establishment and funding of technical colleges and universities in the state, creating enabling work environment for civil servants by daring to construct a multi-billion naira one-stop secretariat, putting Delta in the international aviation space through the Asaba International Airport, checking the flooding of Asaba/Okpanam metropolis as well as Warri and environs, ensuring security in the state, empowering the people of the state through different entreprenerial schemes, among several others – he should not relent as it is all about good governance.
In the national scene, Governor Okowa is seen as the true face of a credible democrat in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He has severally positioned the party for victory through organising credible, transparent and acceptable conventions. He is presently the Chairman, South-South Governors Forum and, just few days ago, he played host to all the governors of the Southern Nigeria states where far-reaching decisions and declarations were made.
Today, even the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has keyed into the decision for open grazing to be banned in the country, which was one of the resolutions the Asaba meeting of the Governors of the States in the Southern part of the country agreed on.
Governors are known to have more information than most people because of the positions they occupy; so, it was not a surprise when Governor Okowa said, “We are politicians and politics will have to be played. I can see that a lot has been on in our dear state, especially the scramble for who will replace Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa come 2023. Unfortunately, we were not even patient. They have started their campaigns in the first three months of my second term in office.
“I want to charge our leaders and people to be cautious, because politics is such that if you don’t read it rightly, you will directly throw our people into fire.
“I am not all-knowing but, at the appropriate time, leaders must be ready to sit down for us to do a proper analysis politically, before we take decisions, so that we will not lead our people into darkness.
“I want to caution our leaders who are jumping the ship, because of the very little thing that has been provided for them. It is not about self; it is going to be about the people.”
That speech by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at the empowerment programme for the people of Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency by the Minority Leader of House of Representatives and member representing the area in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, seems to have stirred the hornet’s nest. And, the question that continues to agitate the minds of those who have watched the game from when Chief Ibori took the Asaba Arcade by storm in 1998 despite the light showers of rain through the all-night meetings that were held in Chief Ibori’s country home at Oghara by the more than 12 aspirants from the party that jostled to take over from him is, will the aspirants play by the rules?
So, it will not be wrong if Governor Okowa, as a true democrat and lover of peace creates the forum for the aspirants to meet and jaw-jaw instead of war. After all, they are all Deltans who have the interests of the state at heart. With Governor Okowa, politics is not war; it is a game, and the aspirants should not see themselves as enemies in opposing camps.
Although, zoning has seen the three senatorial districts having a taste of the Government House, Asaba, it is also a fact that there has never been a contest for the governorship seat without people from the three senatorial districts contesting for the position. Yet, zoning often gets the day!
From the grapevine, several names have been at least whispered aloud as individuals nursing the ambition to take over from Governor Okowa in 2023. We have heard about Deacon Burutu Otuaro, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwado, Olorogun Fred Majemite, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Mr Peter Mrakpor (SAN), Chief James Augoye, Olorogun David Edevbie, Chief Austine Ayomedejo, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, Senator James Manager, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Rt. Hon. Ovie Agas, Chief Kenneth Okpara, Dr Abel Esievo, among others.
The greatest joy will be for them (aspirants) to put the interest of the people first before self. They should not heat up the polity or engage in ‘bad-belle’ politics and, as much as possible, they should be meeting regularly to enable them go into the elections as brothers rather than bitter rivals or sworn enemies.
Obviously, no individual can single-handedly produce a democratic governor in a state like Delta simply because a lot of political horse-trading is involved, which is why Governor Okowa was emphatic when he said, “Leaders must be ready to sit down for us to do a proper analysis politically, before we take decisions, so that we will not lead our people into darkness.”
All the aspirants are also known to have property in Asaba, the state capital. With the transformation of the capital city, they take Asaba as home and continuous development, improvement of infrastructure in the state capital cannot be compromised by whoever desires a progressive Delta State because a first-time visitor to the state would rate the entire state based on what he or she sees in Asaba.
This is why one would key into the statement by the governor that, “Whosoever is coming to rule this state, by the grace of God, must be somebody who is ready to ensure that there is fairness, equity and justice.
“We want somebody who will come to Asaba and see Asaba as his home and not somebody who will come and feel that Asaba as headquarters is misplaced.”
By Fidelis Egugbo, Special Assistant, Media, to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
