Delta North is one of the three
senatorial zones in Delta State and it is made up of the Igbo speaking people
of Anioma. Delta Central is dominated by the Urhobo while Delta South is
divided among the Isoko, the Ijaw and the Itsekiri. Ever since the state was
carved out of the old Bendel State by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd)
on August 27 1991, none of the sons or daughters of Delta North has ever had a
shot at the Government House as governor.
During the ill-fated Third Republic, Olorogun Felix Ibru, who
emerged from the Social Democratic Party SDP was from Delta Central. The only
position extended to Delta North then was that Chief Simeon Ebonka, an Anioma
man, was used as the deputy governor. During the 1999 political entropy, Chief
James Onanefe Ibori from Delta Central became the governor, with Chief Benjamin
Elue, who is from Delta North emerging as his deputy.
However, the equation changed in the present administration of
Governor Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan who is from Delta South, as his deputy, Prof
Amos Utuama, hails from Delta Central. Delta North is thus left with the
position of Speaker of the House of Assembly, with Rt. Hon Victor Ochei
grabbing it with both hands.
As it is now, Delta North people feel that they have often
played second fiddle in the politics of Delta State. This is why they are now
determined to negotiate their way into the Government House and have not rested
on their oars to see that they take what they feel rightfully belongs to them.
Consequently, the agitation has gone from bench warming or inertia to
activities and actions that will lead to their glory in 2015. One of such
activities is the proliferation of many groups whose intention is to send some
signals to others who may not be sympathetic to their cause. Some of these
groups are Delta North Political Forum, the Unity Group, Delta North Leaders
forum, Anioma Welfare Initiative, Ndokwa United and Anioma Youths for Change
and Anioma Agenda.
Prominent among these groups is the Anioma Welfare Initiative,
which is spearheaded by a one-time Bendel State Secretary of the defunct
National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Elder John Ehikwe. This group prides itself as
a conglomeration of educated, credible, selfless and neutral personalities of
Anioma and has important personages like Prof. P.C Egbon, Prof. B. Ejechi,
Prof. Godwin Nduka, Justice S.A. Ehiwario(rtd), Dr. Ikechukwu Enwenwan, Dr.
Felix Okpilike, Dr. Roland Eyime, Engr Frank Mordi, Chief Uji Udumeham,
Chairman of Delta State Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Sonny Omordia,
Head of Service in the defunct Bendel State, among others as members. The
Anioma Agenda is also making serious waves and garnering the sympathy of the
people and those of other zones.
Apart from all these, other non-Anioma groups have backed the
Delta North agenda and expressed their readiness to support the latter for the
sake of equity and justice. For instance, the Isoko Political Movement, IPM,
led by Chief Goodnews Agbi has strongly expressed the support of his group to
the Alex-Nwadiamu-led Anioma Agenda for Delta State governorship in
2015. An interactive meeting of the 24 wards of the Isoko North and South
Local Government Areas were held in December where Isoko people backed the
agenda and agitation of Anioma people. Many traditional rulers in the state
have also expressed their support for the Igbo-speaking people of Delta State
to have one of their own as governor come 2015. There are also indications that
Prof. S.O. Okobia -led Urhobo Political Movement(UPM) is strongly backing
an Anioma candidate, though the erudite gentleman has often said that he is
more committed to having a credible candidate emerge as governor.
Despite all the backing, it may not be far from the truth to say
that Delta North will not have it on a platter of gold. There are indications
that Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, the three-time governorship aspirant and
candidate of Democratic People’s Party(DPP), himself from Delta Central, is
strongly interested in being in the Government House come 2015.Considering the
election battles between the Abraka-born billionaire and former Governor James
Onanefe Ibori and now Governor Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan , which left many
gasping for breath, it is critical that he will pose a big threat to the Anioma
agenda due to his followership . Chief Tony Ezeagwu, the DPP Party Chairman and
son of Anioma, in December 2012, dissociated his party from the Anioma
agitation, saying it is the PDP agenda which does not hold water in DPP.
Considering the followership of DPP, the Anioma agenda may be in peril unless
the people put their house in order.
Governor Uduaghan recently cautioned the people of Anioma,
enjoining them to put their house in order if they must be taken seriously ahead
of 2015 polls. To many, this already shows that the Delta State Governor is
interested in handing over power to the zone in 2015, though many still
speculate that leaders from other regions, including Chief James Ibori who is
in the UK prison, would want power returned to Delta Central. There are also
some Deltans who feel that the warning is an indication that if people of Delta
North do not unite to bring out one person, particularly in the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP), the region might as well lose the agitation. Take for
instance, more than twenty contestants have, directly or indirectly, indicated
their interests in the plum job. Names like Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Rt. Hon.
Victor Ochei, Prof Sylvester Monye, Hon. Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Obielum and many
others have been associated with the goal of ruling Delta State.
But what makes anybody believe that power can be given? From the
benefit of hindsight, power is not given but taken. Any region, tribe or
group desiring to capture political power must be ready to win the sympathy and
confidence of other people, regions, tribes and groups and, possibly, convince
them that they will bring something different. And with the impending
fierce battle raging between Anioma and Urhobo(in spite of all the mouthed
support), it is clear that unless Delta North unites in a political party that
shares their agenda and are saleable, they may hardly realize their ambition
sooner. There is also mistrust among the people. For example, will the
Agbor people believe that they share the same descent, language and ancestry
with the Oshimili or Anaocha? This question will be appreciated when one
understands the sociology of the zone better. But can a house divided against
itself stand? Never!
Just like in many life escapades, Anioma people must be ready to
come together this time and show others that they are neither the minority nor
the feeble. Crying wolf of marginalization is not enough, especially when
nothing is done to win the confidence of other zones. Unless the Anioma people
begin to play politics of inclusion and hold hands on each other, many people,
including some of their own who have diverse interests, will not even vote for
any candidate who emerges from the area.
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