IKA WEEKLY
Mr. Williams Eghebi has said that Senator Ifeanyi Okowa's victory at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries in Delta State has consolidated the state.
In the words of Williams Eghebi “Democracy is known and accepted to be a political decision based on majority. It does not necessary pontificate that the popular decision is the best but it is superior and binding. In Delta State, a political structure created in 1992, have made several decisions that may not necessarily be the best.
These decisions were premised on ethnic primordial considerations which are protected by the tenet of democracy, a contraception referred to home grown democracy. Beside, aforementioned, homegrown democracy allows for rotational power shift among the federating units. It is for this reason that Chief James Onanefe Ibori bossed the state between 1999 and 2003, while Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan took over from him and expected to relinquish power next May. Though, these guys are biologically related, they however, represented the Central and South Senatorial Districts. It is deliberate to submerge the tenure of Olorogun Felix Ibru who hails from the central senatorial district. The only district that is yet to occupy the government slot, is Delta North, conveniently referred to as Anioma.
“The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has a governorship flag bearer from Anioma. It is expected that the other zones should support Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Anioma son hoisting the PDP flag. While the South Senatorial Zone appears comfortable with genuine power shift, there seem to be some reservation by a few from the central zone. It is being advertised with great difficulties that since the state capital is in the zone, Delta North cannot produce a governor. The proponents of the notion that Delta North people are inferior also claim that we do not contribute enough to the revenue of the state, thus cannot preside over appropriations.
“That a zone where a state capital is situated cannot produce governor is democratically alien and historically flawed. In our neighbouring Edo State, Chief John Odigie Oyegun and Lucky Nosa Igbinedion are former governors of Benin extraction. It is also wrong that Delta North is a marginal contributor to our common purse. There are huge oil and gas production in Ndokwa nation, in addition to the recent oil production activities in Ika land. The erroneous assumption that we are leeches is a reflection of our poor political representation. If Anioma had selfless political arrowheads, Ika would have long being member of DESOPADEC.
“The power of a ballot paper is to decide who manages our common affairs without utmost trust. The homegrown democracy here recommends rotational mandates. We should all support the unwritten agreement that Delta North should produce the next governor. It is whimsical for any ethnic group to flaunt population advantage because the other two senatorial districts can conveniently form a major bloc against the other tribe. The last primaries clearly showed how seamless the idea can blossom. We must all be team players, regarding none as inferiors.
“Dr Okowa is a product of circumstances. He emerged through difficult struggle, yet no violence. Against all odds, majority of his opponents at the primaries have all left the trenches to work with him. Unlike in 2006/2007, there are irreconcilable issues within the party as far as governorship ticket was concerned. So far, Dr Okowa has shown the capacity to integrate to a great extent diverse political interests and groups.
“I did not support Dr Okowa during the party primaries for obvious reasons and if the scenario is replayed, I will act same role. However, having deservedly obtain the ticket, it is only natural that we genuinely support him to victory. Besides, I honestly, think, he has the mental strength to reposition the state for growth. Delta is a state loved by God. We must restrain from heating up the polity. The ethnic warlords do not care about us. They are using ethnic agitations to solicit pecuniary attention and plum political patronages. They do not care a hoot about you and I. In the past, huge resources were deployed to defend electoral victories at the expense of the citizenry. We should not encourage litigations by playing ostrich. Our infrastructures are dysfunctional while the unemployment rate is a time-bomb. We need a peaceful post election. Let us not be tempted to succumb to ethnic leanings. Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is a symbol of peaceful co-existence anchored on rotational power deal. Let us give him a chance
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