DYNAMICS OF DELTA 2015 GUBER ELECTIONS

The 2015 elections may still be more than a year away but in Delta State, some of the gubernatorial hopefuls are already at one another’s throats in what is fast deteriorating into a rat race to Government House.

My projection is that the desperation with which various hopefuls for the governorship are trying to actualise their ambitions may end up framing the elections in crisis, bad blood and most unfortunately, in ethnic hatred.

I am however more interested here in interrogating what is now a clear attempt, on the part of some of these competitors, at ganging up against Engr. Victor Ochei, incumbent Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly. Instructively, while Ochei has already emerged as the frontrunner on account of his stunning achievements as Speaker, the storm of unfair attacks from a multiplicity of directions over a race he has not even officially declared for, can only serve to make Deltans more sympathetic to his person.

OCHEI AND THE DELTA 2015 HOUNDS

The 2015 elections may be a year and several months away but in Delta State, the impression one gets is that the gubernatorial poll may well be holding tomorrow. While hardly anyone has publicly declared for the race, certain interested politicians are already at one another’s throats in what is fast deteriorating into a rat race to Government House.

My projection is that the acrimony with which various political gladiators are trying to actualize their ambitions may well lead to bloodshed in the period leading up to the election proper, a pointer to which is the dastardly attempt on the life of Engr. Victor Ochei, incumbent Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly. The failed assassination, a brazen act of terrorism, took place at Obomkpa, a town in Aniocha North Local Government Area, which Ochei represents at the Assembly, targeting him in what was a clear attempt to murder him in cold blood at an event at which he was engaging his constituents at a grassroots level.

OCHEI: MANIFESTING COURAGE & CONFIDENCE

In my over five decades on mother earth, I have never comprehended the import of the cliché ‘’never judge a book by its cover” until by divine providence, I met Rt Hon Victor Onyekachi Ochei, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, during the recent Annual Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Asaba. His inclination to listen, discuss and offer advice to the teeming and enthusiastic crowd, devoid of the Bonapartean carriage of c’est moi d’etat (I am the state) was a sort of curious paradox.

Though I was enthralled by his simplicity; I was determined to unearth this enigma, who had been severally and erroneously classified as haughty. My inquisitiveness provided an interesting vista on his innumerable accomplishments in diverse fields of human endeavour, which stemmed from his courtship with courage and confidence as core components in achieving success.

UDUAGHAN’S SUCCESSOR: WHOSE SACRIFICE WILL THE GODS ACCEPT?

Although, the year 2015 is still far away, glimmers of things to be expected before, during and after the governorship election have started rolling out in Delta State. No fewer than 12 contestants from across the three senatorial districts of the oil rich state are already jostling to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who has not finished his tenure. DOMINIC ADEWOLE in Asaba, reports that the race may after all not be for any of the early risers as was proven with the election of Uduaghan in 2007.

Although, none of those who have shown interest has come up with a blueprint for the development of the state, faceless groups, corporate organisations, socio-political pressure groups, women affairs and community development associations, who have laid claim to the wind of positive change in the state, have started drumming support for their preferred aspirants.

DELTA GUBER 2015: CAN VICTOR OCHEI MAKE IT?

As the race to Unity House, Asaba gathers momentum,indications are that the political pendulum of Delta State governorship race has been tilted towards Delta North Senatorial District or zoned by the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Incidentally, the Delta North Senatorial District consists of9 local governments of the 25 local government areas in the State. The Local Government areas are: Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East, Ukwuani, Ika North and Ika North-East.
According to our recent findings, over five people have indicated their interest to vie for the Land lordship of the prestigious Unity House, which is the seat of government in the State. These include: Hon. Victor Ochei, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Hon. Obi and Dr. Cairo Ojugo. These are the people vying for the ticket under PDP and from Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.There is a confirmed report that Professor Pat. Utomi who has twice failed as presidential aspirant is also in the guber race.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR 2015 GUBERNATORIAL POLLS

Willy Bee Bozimo, a veteran journalist believes the gubernitorial election for 2015 in Delta State is not about to follow a new pattern in selecting the canditate for the Office of the Governor… 

Effectively, while Nigerians ‘are being treated to speculations in some national media with front page screaming headline telling readers –OBJ, JONATHAN SCRAMBLE FOR NORTHERN GOVERNORS, WITH SOME RIDERS- Sambo entangled in battle for the soul of the North, with two northern governors eyeing vice president’s position and mobilizing for Jonathan as OBJ also canvassing for the return of the presidency to the North during the condolence visit to Kaduna state late Governor’s wife.

2015: DELTA NORTH WANTS POWER FOR EQUITY BY ODINAKA ANUDU

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.

TOWARDS 2015: MACHINATIONS FOR NEXT GOVERNOR-THE IBORI/UDUAGHAN FACTOR

In the 2015 general elections for which this series is meant to address in the interest of the Urhobo people of Delta State, several factors will determine the outcome of the gubernatorial election and other polls. 

In the 2015 general elections for which this series is meant to address in the interest of the Urhobo people of Delta State, several factors will determine the outcome of the gubernatorial election and other polls. Chief of these factors is the Ibori and Uduaghan covert plans to perpetuate themselves as lords of the political space in the State. Other important factors that would also determine the direction of things in 2015 are Urhobo interest, the Anioma agenda and the people or the masses across Delta State.