Gov. Uduaghan of Delta State

Ndokwa, Ika and new Delta 2015 calculations

Posted by: Ifi Ntiejum in Politics 1 day ago

The race for Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s successor in Delta State is taking more dramatic turns, reports Ifi Ntiejum

Asaba, the Delta State capital, is a placid place. Driving down the dual carriage way from the new airport you cannot escape its quiet ambience. The only trace of underlying excitement – a pointer to the fact that events that may redefine the power equation in the state are imminent – are the row of freshly-minted billboards advertising the 2015 ambitions of a string of well-known politicians.

Notable among them are some like former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, chairperson of the board of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who used to be Secretary to the State Government (SSG), among others.

One thing common to these aspirants is that they are all from the Delta North senatorial district. One or two used to be considered frontrunners in the race to take over the gubernatorial seat next year. Today, that is no longer the case. First, Ochei lost his powerful perch as Speaker to 2015 power play. It remains to be seen if the likes of Okowa have also lost whatever momentum they had at one stage.

What is not in dispute is that among the political elite the consensus is that power is shifting to the Delta North, given that the Central and South senatorial zones had had bites of the cherry. On the surface it seems like a straightforward matter. But in reality it is not so simple given that the area in question is home to at least three distinct nationilities – each staking a claim to the seat.

THE CASE FOR NDOKWA

Delta North is made up of nine local government areas broken down as follows: Aniocha North and South; Ika North-East and South; Oshimili North and South; Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani. Put differently the Aniocha, Ika and Oshimili peoples have two councils each, while Ndokwa has three. In terms of spatial spread the landmass of Ndokwa is almost equal to that of these three other nations put together.

Initially, when discussions and consultations started regarding the direction of the power equation for 2015 and beyond, most actors in the political class were of the view that the Ndokwa nation be given the chance to produce Uduaghan’s successor for several reasons.

By geographical positioning it is the only ethnic nationality that shares boundaries with Delta Central, Delta South and Delta North. It also shares a lot of cultural similarities with the Ijaws, Itsekiris and Urhobos with whom they used to belong to the old Delta Province.

This latter fact is said to have made the Urhobos, Ijaws, Itsekiris and Isoko to be comfortable with the Ndokwa aspiration. The Urhobos have been particularly vocal about this.

It is also significant that Ndokwa is a major contributor to the national economy because of her oil and gas reserves. Nigeria Agip Oil Company has a major gas plant and power facility located in the Kwale/Okpai axis. Ironically, an area from which these rich natural resources flow remains one of the poorest and most underdeveloped in the entire state.

To get a sense of how the Ndokwa have been excluded from exercising power at the highest level in the state, one only needs to look at the picture of those who have governed the state and the outlook becomes very stark.

The highest position an Ndokwa man has ever held is that of senator through Senator Patrick Osakwe. Ndokwa also occupied the position of speaker briefly through Hon. Olise Imegwu. But then Martins Okonta and Sam Obi who later became Acting Governor in the days of the annulment were also speakers. They are both from Ika. The Aniocha/Oshimili axis through Victor Ochei and the incumbent, Peter Onwusanya, have equally occupied the seat of Speaker.

The Aniocha/Oshimili people through Chief Nosike Ikpo have also been in the Senate. The incumbent Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is Ika.

No Ndokwa man has ever been a Deputy Governor from the days when the region used to be called Mid-West. None has even acted for a day! The same cannot be said for others parts of the zone. John Edozien was Deputy Governor in the old Bendel/Delta period. He is from Aniocha/Oshimili just like another former occupant of that office, Benjamin Elue. Simeon Ebonka who has also held that office is Ika.

Very instructive is the fact that the first Premier of the defunct Mid-West Region was Chief Dennis Osadebey from Aniocha/Oshimili.

This dramatic picture of marginalization, more than anything else, is what is propelling those who are pushing the case for Ndokwa to produce the next governor. It was an argument that seemed to have seduced the political class up till now with many preferring the area as destination of the governorship.

In fact those familiar with the unfolding intrigues in the run-up to next year’s polls – especially in the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) – suggest that the Urhobos are dead set against the ambitions of Aniocha and Oshimili aspirants given that the state chairman of the party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, looks like a shoo-in for senatorial ticket.

THE OBUH CARD

So what has changed in the race at this time? Aside the so-called ‘frontrunners’, many who have been pushing the Ndokwa cause have been jolted by the unscripted entry into the picture of the former Permanent Secretary, Government House, Anthony Obuh.

He was until early September a civil servant with no known political ambitions. But suddenly he has been traipsing around the state – with his promoters claiming he is the anointed candidate of Governor Uduaghan. So far the incumbent has not come out to openly back anyone – only encouraging all aspirants to sell themselves.

But as one senior politician said to me recently, in politics you only need to read the signals. He pointed to what he called the governor’s “body language” which seemed to suggest that he may have settled on Obuh. Some have even said the man wouldn’t have resigned his position to run for office if he had not been encouraged to do so.

Indeed, many have pointed out that some of the most vocal boosters of the former Permanent Secretary are persons known to be close to the governor. When Itsekiri businessman and politician, Ayiri Emami, convened the first meeting to push Obuh it sent out the signal that Uduaghan was behind the arrangement. Although the governor has denied backing anyone, Emami openly declared that “Uduaghan told me” Obuh was the man. The rest of the state is left to read between the lines.

Again, many with their fingers on the pulse of high wire political intrigues in the state say former Governor James Ibori who still retains significant influence in the wheeling and dealing is opposed to the Obuh project. He was known to be an enthusiastic backer of Dr. Okowa’s aspirations.

Indeed, those in the know say that the former governor has told close associates that instead of backing the unfolding scenario, he would rather support efforts by First Lady, Patience Jonathan, to install Olejeme as the nation’s first elected woman governor.

IS OBUH A DONE DEAL?

Some have suggested that the Obuh thing is just propaganda or a gimmick; a move to neutralize the likes of Okowa who is from Ika like him. Others have said it is the governor’s way of juggling so many balls in the air, in the way that no one can guess where he’s headed.

That may or may not be the case. What is clear, however, is the sudden appearance of Obuh in the race is not only generating suspicion, it has triggered intense resentment. Moreso when all those like Chief Ighoyota Amori, Senior Political Adviser to the Governor and some state cabinet members who have going from place to place with Obuh are the governor’s men.

This list which is already circulating on social media gives a breakdown of the structure supposedly supporting the Obuh project.

PROJECT OBUH 2015 – CAMPAIGN STRUCTURE

Chief (Barr) Fred Majemite- Director General

DELTA SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT

Federal Constituency Supervisory Coordinators

ISOKO. Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay

WARRI. Dr. Joseph Otumara

BURUTU. Rt. Hon Funkekeme Solomon

PATANI/BOMADI. Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu

DELTA CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT

Federal Constituency Supervisory Coordinators

Ugh. North/Ugh. South/Udu. Dr. Chris oghenechovwe

Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Fed. Const. Hon. Evelyn Oboro

Ethiope Fed. Constituency. Chief (Mrs) Faith Majemite

DELTA NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT

Federal Constituency Supervisory Coordinators

L. G. A. Coordinator(s)

Ika. Fed. Constituency. Dr. Philip Ukuada

Aniocha/Oshimili Fed. Const. Dr. Tony Nwaka

Ndokwa Fed. Constituency. Hon. Ossai N. Ossai

L. G. A. COORDINATORS

SOUTH

1. Bomadi. Chief Mike Seikegba/David Ekerekosu

2. Burutu. Hon. Daniel Yingi/ Tito Zuokumor /Edomegben Godwin

3. Patani. Dr. Chris Ekiyor