By Julius Oweh
With the governorship primaries of the PDP and APC concluded which saw the election of the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori and the deputy senate president, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as candidates, the focus is now shifted to the main election. All things being equal, campaigns shall start September this year. In choosing the running mates, the two major political parties decided to cast their nest into the Ndokwa nation, the second largest ethnic group after the dominant Urhobos. It is sad, however, that the Ndokwa politicians have not been able to stand their ground and push for the dividends of democracy in their land. One sore point is that in the whole of Ndokwa nation, there is no tertiary institution owned by the state government. It is only hoped that this obvious neglect shall be addressed by the next government either by the PDP or the APC.
The choice of Sir Monday Onyeme as the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP and Honourable Friday Osanebi as the deputy governorship candidate for the APC is no more news and the two political parties would like to exploit the Ndokwa vote. Those celebrating the choice of these two Ndokwa sons are making an error of judgment for this is certainly not the zenith of Ndokwa participation in Delta state politics. It was Professor Eric Opia from Ushie in 1991 that flew the flag of Ndokwa people. He was the governorship candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention that contested against Olorogun Felix Ibru of the Social Democratic Party. Even though he lost that election, he was able to pass a strong message: the Ndokwa people should not be treated as postscript in the political evolution and development of Delta State. It is sad that since then, the fortunes of Ndokwa people in state politics have nosedived. It is only hoped one of the two Ndokwa sons becoming the next deputy governor shall revive that and end the many years of political marginalization.
If the servitude of Ndokwa people must end, they should come together and present a formidable front. There is vast oil and gas in the land and if you are regular traveller along the Kwale Ozoro road, you would see the flaring of gas and the resultant pollution of the environment. This is one critical issue the Ndokwa politicians should address for acid rain is the norm in Ndokwa nation when you add that of Okpai. The Ndokwa people are unique and distinct in their own right and it is time for the politicians to carve a niche for themselves. They are closer to the Isokos and the Urhobos but most of the time they align with the Ikas, Aniochas, Oshimilis and all are grouped as Anioma people. Be that as it may, the Ndokwa people must demand their due in Delta state nay the Nigerian federation.
A lot of people are clinking glasses on the selection of two Ndokwa sons as running mates and that either way, an Ndokwa son is the next deputy governor. I may have to disappoint them with the following submission. The deputy governor has no constitutional role and that his happiness or sadness depends on the disposition of his principal, the governor. Currently, the present deputy governor is in charge of chieftaincy matters and allied affairs. This is what the two candidates of Ndokwa extraction must bear in mind. Any deputy governor with vaulting ambition can be sidelined by the sitting governor.
The choice of the PDP in Sir Monday Onyeme is apt and a political masterstroke. Onyeme is from Ibabu community of Onicha Ukwuani in Ndokwa West local government area of the state. He is accountancy graduate of the University of Calabar. Onyeme is a former bursar with the National Open University of Abuja, and also a former chairman of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue. Therefore he is a seasoned bureaucrat that brings in wealth of experience and could peak the PDP governorship ticket to greater height. The governorship candidate Oborevwori should he win the ticket next year shall tap into the experiences of Onyeme in managing the finances of the state.
As for Honourable Friday Osanebi, he is a former deputy speaker of the State House of Assembly that fell out with the authority of the House and was actually suspended. A Lawyer and a stinking millionaire, it is sad to say that he has no electoral value in Delta North senatorial district. Osanebi is still a member of the PDP and has not defected to the APC. Therefore political observers are at loss why Senator Omo Agege should settle for a politician whose electoral value is less than zero. Maybe, the APC is looking at the deep pocket of Osanebi and that he may help them in financing the governorship race. Omo-Agege said that the choice of Osanebi was influenced by the greater good of Deltans and the need to give the youths a chance. Next year election should prove the truth or otherwise of the sentiments of the former deputy speaker. Osanebi hails from Beneku in Ndokwa East local government area of the state.
The battle for the control of the governorship race is now in Delta south senatorial district, the home of the Isokos, Ijaws and Itsekiris. The votes in Delta Central shall be split between the PDP and the APC. The votes in Ndokwa nation shall also be split between the PDP and APC because of the running mates to the governorship candidates. Therefore Delta South and part of Delta North shall decide who wins the governorship race. It is also instructive to note here that the way the two governorship running mates carry on shall make or mar the election of their principals.
