DELTA 2015: THE UNFOLDING POLITICAL EQUATION

By Eberechi Kennedy

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in more ways than one, has taken a bold step in defining the developmental roadmap for the state along the line of 'Delta State Beyond Oil'. His succession calls for a prudent manager of resources, an administrator of proven track record and a level headed politician. The state has had more than its fair share of political controversies and litigations that should not continue in the future. There is indeed a big and urgent task to be accomplished for a greater Delta State. Therefore, the focus at this critical juncture should be on how the electoral process can throw up the best kind of leader for the task of putting the people first in the resource mobilization and allocation for enhanced development of the oil-rich state.

The unfolding political equation in Delta is as fascinating as it is worrying. This is because of the waiting game the APC and other parties in opposition are playing. The APC is waiting and watching with keen interest to see if there can be any miscalculation on the part of the PDP with respect to the emergence of a gubernatorial flag bearer. Any miscalculation on the part of the PDP can turn out to be more expensive for it than ever imagined.

The crucial question at this stage is what will constitute a miscalculation on the part of PDP? Without evasion, the most striking will be to pick a candidate outside Delta North, the only senatorial district yet to produce a governor in the 23-year political history of the state. Deltans also want a grassroots governor who is at home with the people and the environment and is readily accessible to the people. The PDP will also do well to watch out for politicians with baggage of liabilities, litigations and EFCC invitations as unlikely election winners.

Miscalculation on the part of any party can also be the investment of its ticket on a politician who has been known to serially abuse the public trust and collective confidence bestowed on him/her. Deltans, as democrats will have several ways of kicking against any form of imposition of unpopular leadership that will owe its legitimacy to any other power source outside the people. The time has come for Delta to make a resounding statement to the rest of the country on a democratic process of leadership emergence. Imposition is out of it while character and content of aspiration are critical for public evaluation.

This is where Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Juliet Olejeme comes in. She brings a progressive ideology and agenda to Delta in 2015 because; it will only take a bridge builder to navigate through our experience to offer a viable promise. It is here experience counts - A blend of the public, cum private matrix is enough experiment to provide the proper and fit dose for our ailment.

Ngozi Juliet Olejeme is a Nigerian Philanthropist, entrepreneur, politician and administrator. She presently sits on the board of numerous companies and Government establishments, most notably is the NigeriaSocial Insurance Trust-fund (NSITF), where she currently sits as the Chairman of the Board, Subsidy Re-Investment Program (SURE-P) and Trust Fund Pension, among others. She is versatile with huge coverage, exposure and experience in corporate governance.

At the heart of her governance, strategy of development is wealth creation. Government if handled with the right attitude and purposeful leadership will perform optimally. Her development narratives is premised on the tenets that an efficient government is possible and can provide an industrialized economy with full employment, price stability, high output and net export. Industrialization is fundamental to the quest of the 'Delta Beyond Oil' philosophy. It can be captured with a greater framework that is inclusive and comprehensive.

Olejeme relies on the deployment of agricultural revolution and the creation and merger of an industrial base to serve as catalyst for an African economic hub in Delta State and takeoff point for the Nigerian project. Olejeme's inclusive economic development model is a platform that seeks to reinvent government as critical site and realm in production, distribution, exchange and consumption in the economic sphere. Olejeme's governance developmentalism strategy is positioned to make government as fountain of mobilizing resource towards effective competition and building of a comparative advantage economy.

The thrust of her development model is anchored on a social security programme for all Deltans with a vision to create a deliberate distribution and redistribution projects that is inclusive, comprehensive and entrenches its core foundation on mass participation, grassroot involvement and passionate commitment. It's a hybrid cluster of home grown community economic model that will mobilize equal opportunity for all to create an import substitution framework in conserving and generating wealth. The community will own the process and gains of the model with the state acting as facilitator. This brand of development will only focus on developing and articulating all sectors of the economy, in order to harmonize and promote circular flow of income to significantly multiply within the economy, leaving little or no opportunity for wastages.

Technology incubation centers will be created along each sector of the economy to allow for the growth and development of the human capability to contribute enormously to their wellbeing. The financial and stabilizing fund for each sector development will be created to provide for robust and unhindered participation of all. Mentorship programme shall be created for all incubation centers and follow up with entrepreneur buildup agenda.

It is therefore another defining historical moment of political realism, of realignments and bridge building to secure a greater Delta for the coming generation. Today's decisions have got far reaching implications for our future both as a people and as a state.

Disclaimer: "The views expressed on this site are those of the contributors or columnists, and do not necessarily reflect TheNigerianVoice’s position. TheNigerianVoice will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here."