Delta 2015: Who Succeeds Emmmuel Uduaghan?

Twelve months from now, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan will be handling power to the third democratic governor come May 29, 2015. Though it was an alleged rumoured that former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon. Victor Ochei was the anointed son of the present governor and only fell out from the race at the eleventh hour of leadership.

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has recently indicated interest to contest for Delta South Senatorial zone to replace the present serving senator James Manager. As Delta State politics is getting ticker, many aspirants from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), and other opposition parties, All Progressives Party(APC) , Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Labour Party(LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA), Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN), National Conscience Party(NCP) and others are ready to take the leadership of state from the ruling party come 2015.

The recent faulted interview granted by the Delta State SSG, Comrade Macaulay Ovuozourie on the national newspapers over the zoning formular of PDP that some powers that be within the state wants Delta North to produce the next governor of the state at all means. In his own political view, Hon Macaulay was misconstrued by desperate power brokers that Delta north must not produce the governor come 2015.

His view was that everybody is qualified to run and there was no written document on Delta State governorship zoning. Most of the aspirants jostling for the 2015 governorship position either from the ruling party or opposition parties are jokers, attention seekers, social media campaigners, serious-minded servant contenders, noisemakers, posters' seekers and jesters. The problem of Delta State politics is that everybody wants to be a governor but lack ethics of craftsmanship leadership that can take the state to the next level.

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan's three point agenda has been creatively achieved with his political determination to see Deltans living beyond oil and others. He needed to be commended for releasing Delta State Local Government Elections Timetable which many political observers initially described his government as a total failure. Though, zoning is no longer relevant in Delta State politics because of the emerging political structure in the state. Even some groups also alleged that Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is planning to defect to another political party to fulfil his senatorial ambition and while it was also allegedly rumoured that Chief James Ibori would be released from the London custody before 2015 in order to monitor Delta politics as a godfather but Uduaghan disclaimed that allegations on him . Delta State is divided into three senatorial districts; Delta south, Delta north and Delta central with 25 local governments and a population of 4 million people and 5 notable ethnic groups occupying the state. Delta State was created in 1991 which is presently 23years ago and its leadership has occupied by Olorogun Felix Ibru, Chief James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan. Both Delta central and Delta south have politically benefitted from Delta State leadership which has prompted the Delta north to be clamouring for their own leadership without due process.

2015 is not far again, but some aspirants are qualified to run for the governorship position without qualms like Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi is a great Delta politician with a pedigree in politics. He is one of the strongest contenders that cannot be swept under the carpet like that. He is one of the voices of Delta PDP. With his popularity and as an Urhobo man, Asaba Government House is at his door step.

Senator Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa is one Delta north gifted politician whose philanthropic gestures have helped to alleviate poverty in the lives of Delta north people. He is an articulated politician that knows the nitty-gritty of Delta State politics from 1999 till date. He remains one of the best aspirants to be nominated by the Delta PDP if all things work together. He deserves the seat of the governorship of Delta State come 2015. He is accessible to the people.

Dr. Mrs Ngozi Olejeme is the present Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the only female aspirant under the platform of the PDP to run for Delta 2015.She is one the Delta north aspirants that is ready to run without giving up her aspiration. She is the mother of Nigerian widows. She is highly connected politically and economically. She is one aspirant to look up to if she can scale through the Delta PDP primaries without manipulation. She can trend on the legacies of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan if elected.

Rt Hon. Victor Ochei was the former speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and astute business man but he is a proud politician who does not pick calls or reply text messages. He is not accessible to the people. He only has legislative knowledge not Delta State leadership. So his fell out with the present governor of the state was applauded by the Delta North people.

Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe a former Niger- Delta minister joining the avalanche of aspirants to contest for Delta 2015 is not a mistake. He has also appointed his media committee where the world-class Ijaw publisher, Presidor Ghomorai is the chairman. But he is yet to declare his political ambition to the people. He is connected to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria. He is from Ijaw and he has what he takes to lead the state if given the mandate come 2015. He needs to work harder to secure the ticket.

Chief Great Ogboru is an opposition aspirant still consulting with his party elders and leaders whether to contest again or not. He started his political aspiration since 2003 till date and remains a bonafide member of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). 2015 he is ready to take over the leadership of the state by force.

Barrister Festus Keyamo is also contesting under the platform of All Progressives Congress(APC) for Delta 2015, though he initially changed his mind to run for the replacement of late Senator Pius Ehwerido for Delta central senatorial seat late last year but was allegedly robbed by powers that be. Festus Keyamo is a young politician to beat but still needs to learn from his political elders and leaders in the party. Politics is not grammar or people know me very well but the amount of political impacts made in the past gives your victory in the poll.

Dr. Festus Okubor is the present Chief of Staff to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan from the Delta north also indicating interest to contest for 2015. He is an aspirant to look up in 2015. Chief Godswill Obielum is an experienced politician who is ready to take Delta State to the next level with much wealth on his feet. Chief Peter Okocha initially contested against Emmanuel Uduaghan under the platform of the defunct ACN but later returned to the PDP. He is an aspirant to watch out in 2015. Ovie Omo-Agege is a renowned lawyer who contested against Uduaghan on a neutral political platform and since returned to PDP with political compensation. He has indicated interest to run in 2015.

Finally, Hon. Sam Obi who has acted as a governor of Delta State and presently serving in the Delta State House of Assembly, is an aspirant to watch out. Others are Professor Saliba Umukoro, Solomon Ogba, Pat Utomi, Okiogbero Jonathan, Ndudi Elumelu, Clement Ufuani, Amori Ighotoya, John Kpokpogri,Obaro Uuafe and others. Deltans want a leader not a ruler come 2015 to take the state to the Promised Land.

Godday Odidi.
Public Affairs Analyst.
08058124798. Lagos

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Articles by Godday Odidi