In
the last few weeks, several persons have been touted as the most likely
successor to Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in 2015. Out of the
lot, two men stand out. Remi Adelowo reports
About
two months ago, some major political stakeholders had gathered at the Isoko
country home of the former Chairman of Guinness Plc, Chief Abel Ubeku, in Delta
State, for a social cum thanksgiving service.
Present
at the occasion included the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Comrade
Ovuozorue Macaulay, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Victor
Ochei, to mention but a few.
As it
is common with events of such nature, it soon turned political with the
endorsement by a group named Isoko Development Union (IDU) of Ochei’s alleged
2015 governorship ambition.
But
less than 48hours later, another political group based in Isoko dissociated
itself from Ochei’s endorsement, while accusing Macaulay, who also hails from
the town, as the brain behind IDU’s action.
Weeks
later, Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbare Clark, lent his voice to the ongoing
debate on the 2015 governorship race. The elder statesman, in a scathing
criticism of Ochei’s purported governorship ambition, accused the speaker of
allegedly diverting about N7billion, being the sum of an Integrated Power
Project (IPP) contract in Oghara, the hometown of a former governor of the
state, Chief James Ibori.
Known
for shooting straight from the hip on issues he is passionate about, Clark also
took on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who was
also reported recently to have indicated his interest to succeed Uduaghan in
2015.
The
former First Republic minister expressed disgust with Orubebe’s alleged
ambition, while advising the minister to focus on his current job.
Not a
few people were shocked about his outburst, as he (Clark) is widely believed to
be Orubebe’s godfather, who allegedly nominated him as a Minister of State in
2007.
Ochei
has only responded to this allegation through his associates. In a paid advert
in a national newspaper recently, the associates urged Clark to ‘refrain from
attempts to destroy the integrity and reputation of young and promising
politicians who are young enough to be his children and grandchildren.’
Like
Ochei, the minister, through his foot soldiers, urged Clark to face reality
that Orubebe has come of age politically, adding that no individual can stop
the minister from contesting the 2015 governorship race.
The
above scenarios, observers have pointed out, are a clear indication that the
race on who succeeds Uduaghan would be a photo finish among the leading
aspirants.
Is
Okowa the heir apparent?
Though
he has not spoken publicly about his ambition to contest the governorship
primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) next year, The Nation gathered
that the senator representing Delta North in the Upper Chamber of the National
Assembly, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is alleged to be reinvigorating his structures in
preparation for the race.
Sources
close to the lawmaker, who is popularly called Ekwueme by his political
associates, is seen by major PDP stakeholders in Delta State as the man to beat
for the PDP governorship ticket.
A
medical doctor by training, Okowa has, undoubtedly, paid his dues in the
politics of the state. His first political position was as a secretary of a
local government before he was elected as chairman during the zero party
dispensation in the early 90’s.
At the
inception of the Fourth Republic, Okowa was appointed as a commissioner in 1999
by ex-governor Ibori. Between 1999 and 2007, he was in charge of the ministries
of health, and local government and chieftaincy affairs.
At the
twilight of Ibori’s tenure, Okowa contested for the PDP governorship primaries
and was reported to have won, beating about ten other aspirants. He was,
however, asked to step down for another aspirant, Uduaghan, who later emerged
victorious at the 2007 general elections.
Currently
the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Okowa, from Agbor, is said to be
embarking on wide consultations in the state before throwing his hat into the
ring.
Ochei
is no pushover
In his
mid-40s, Ochei, an engineer, is another governorship aspirant from Delta North
with a large followership.
A
wealthy and charismatic politician, Ochei is believed to be popular among youth
in the state, who see him as ‘one of their own.’
A
source, however, told The Nation that what may work against Ochei is the
general feeling across the state, especially among PDP stakeholders, that he
lacks the experience to rule the state from 2015.
Opinion
are also divided on the speaker’s ambition, with many of his party members
alleging that he is contesting for the governorship ticket as a strong
bargaining tool in order to remain relevant in post-2015 politics.
Elumelu,
an aspirant to watch
From
Oshimili, the three-term member of the House of Representatives is also alleged
to be interested in the 2015 PDP governorship ticket.
The
Nation gathered that his name is being mentioned in certain quarters as a
possible consensus candidate if the PDP primaries turn out to be acrimonious
and inconclusive.
Can
Orubebe upset the apple cart?
Until
he publicly declared his ambition some weeks ago, Orubebe, a staunch associate
of President Goodluck Jonathan, has been rumoured to be plotting to succeed
Uduaghan.
Sources
say he is banking on his closeness to the president, who is allegedly
determined to take more than a passing interest in those to succeed second term
governors in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Delta states.
But
those conversant with the politics of Delta State say Orubebe’s lack of grass
roots structures and support may turn out to be his Achilles heels when the
chips are down.
Unconfirmed
reports have it that the minister may be steeping down from his current job in
the next few months to enable him concentrate on the governorship project,
which allegedly has received the blessing of the president.
The
politics of zoning
One
major factor that may also determine the outcome of the election is the zoning
formula, an unwritten political agreement which has ceded the 2015 governorship
seat to Delta North.
Since
the creation of the state, no indigene of Delta North has occupied the seat, a
development which has further increased the agitation of people of the zone to
have their turn in the next dispensation.
If this
agreement is adhered to, observers believe that the contest may turn out to be
a straight battle between Okowa and Ochei, while Orubebe’s ambition may be dead
even before the race gets underway.
Can the
Anioma zone reach a consensus?
There
are strong fears that the Anioma zone (Delta North) may fail to reach a
consensus on the best candidate to put forward for the PDP primaries, a lacuna
which the other zones (Delta Central and Delta South) may exploit to their
advantage.
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