As we approach 2015, politicians from Delta North have not stopped reminding their brothers and sisters from the Central and South senatorial districts of Delta State that it is their turn to produce the next governor since it is the only senatorial district in the state which is yet to occupy the exalted office.
Delta North which hosts the state capital, Asaba, has nine local government areas, and three federal constituencies. It boasts of heavy weight politicians, seasoned administrators, technocrats and academics, who are known within and outside Nigeria and have contributed immensely to the political development of Delta State in particular and Nigeria in general. In all ramifications, Delta North has all it takes to produce a state governor in 2015 but the big question still remains if the Central and South senatorial districts which have tasted the plum office will support it.
However, as Delta Northerners keep hope alive; many pro-Anioma associations such as Anioma World Assembly, (AWA), Anioma Welfare Initiative (ANI) including social media such as Anioma Voice, Delta Decides, Deltan in Diaspora, G25 Assembly, Anioma Agenda, among others have been formed to help achieve the Anioma dream come 2015.
Illustrious politicians from the area have started oiling their wheels for the tough race which if won will change the political history of the district.
Delta North which hosts the state capital, Asaba, has nine local government areas, and three federal constituencies. It boasts of heavy weight politicians, seasoned administrators, technocrats and academics, who are known within and outside Nigeria and have contributed immensely to the political development of Delta State in particular and Nigeria in general. In all ramifications, Delta North has all it takes to produce a state governor in 2015 but the big question still remains if the Central and South senatorial districts which have tasted the plum office will support it.
However, as Delta Northerners keep hope alive; many pro-Anioma associations such as Anioma World Assembly, (AWA), Anioma Welfare Initiative (ANI) including social media such as Anioma Voice, Delta Decides, Deltan in Diaspora, G25 Assembly, Anioma Agenda, among others have been formed to help achieve the Anioma dream come 2015.
Illustrious politicians from the area have started oiling their wheels for the tough race which if won will change the political history of the district.
Top among the governorship contenders from Delta North are: Rt. Hon Victor Ochei, Speaker Delta State House of Assembly and member representing Anioch North local government, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, chairman, Senate Committee on Health, representing Delta North in the Red chambers of the National Assembly, Prof Sylvester Monye Special Assistant to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Economic Matters, Rt Hon Sam Obi, former Acting Governor and Speaker, and currently represents Ika North East in the State Assembly, Prof Pat. Utomi of the Lagos Business School, Lagos, Chief Godswill Obielum, a retired police officer, Mr. Ben Ngozi Enwose, a.k.a Ben Lion Heart, Dr. Judith Ngozi Olejeme, chairman, National Insurance Trust Fund, Hon Ned Nwoko, DPP candidate in the 2011 National Assembly elections and Clement Ofuani, a former commissioner of Economic Planning in Delta State.
RT. HON VICTOR OCHEI
Rt. Hon Victor Ochei is from Onicha-Olona, in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. He is an engineer by training and currently serving his third tenure as the member representing Aniocha North in the State Assembly. His elevation to the office of the Speaker at the beginning of the 5th State Assembly in June, 2011 no doubt boosted his political career and made him one of the political heavy weights in the State. The youthful and vibrant Victor Ochei is one of the politicians in the state who many Deltans believe has good working relationship with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. Since he assumed the office as a Speaker, he has been working round the clock to make sure he becomes governor in 2015. Although he is still rated average among the political class in terms of his experience, many still believe that he has all it takes to move Delta State forward, hence, he should be given the chance in 2015.
SENATOR IFEANYI ARTHUR OKOWA
Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, representing Delta North at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly is one of the experienced political heavy weight in Delta State. His name is a household one in the state, particularly in Delta North, his senatorial district. Senator Okowa is known and envied for his political prowess, sagacity and the large followership which he commands. During his days in Delta State Government as Commissioners and Secretary to the Delta State Government, Senator Okowa demonstrated a lot of goodwill which today have made him to be outstanding in the state. He is a grassroots politician to the core as he is known in virtually all the local governments in the state.
Okowa, who is popularly address as Ekwueme by his teeming supporters contested the 2007 Delta State governorship election but lost to the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in the primaries. Although, he has not officially announced his ambition to the public, but there is a strong indication that he will not decline the calls to serve as governor come 2015 if Deltans chose him.
Okowa apart from distinguishing himself in the state, has since he became a senator of the Republic of Nigeria contributed immensely to deliberations at the floor of the senate. He is presently the chairman Senate Committee on Health, a position many believed has boosted his political career.
However, Okowa may not have it rosy going to the government House despite his popularity as a result of many toes they said he stepped on while he was in Delta State government. Again many who do not believe in his style of politics may act as a stumbling block to his ambition in 2015.
GODSWILL OBIELUM
Godswill Obielum, a retired police officer is from Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency. He is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and one of the top contenders for the number one political office in the state in 2007. His chances in 2015 are not too certain as he has lost many of his supporters. It is believed that because he is the only aspirant from his area and his recent romance with the state government he might be considered for the plum job.
PROFESSOR SYLVESTER MONYE
Professor Sylvester Monye is from Onicha-Ugbo, Aniocha North local government area. He is one of the revered and highly connected politician in Delta State. His academic brilliance and closeness to the presidency might be an advantage to the actualization of his 2015 dream. Prof Monye though not too known in the State is vast in knowledge and that might be a boat with which he will sail to government House.
DR. JUDITH NGOZI OLEJEME
Dr. Judith Ngozi Olejeme is the only female aspirant for the Delta State governorship seat at the moment. She is a philanthropist to the core judging by the millions of naira she has doled out to assist the less privileged people in the society particularly widows.
Dr. Olejeme who is currently the chairman National Social Insurance Trust Fund and a member of SURE-P at the National level is very serious of her ambition knowing fulling well that no woman has governed Delta State since it was created in August 1991. She has the support of the Asagba of Asaba, Prof Chike Edozien as she is a native of Asaba. She contested in 2007 and failed but has refused to give up. Although she is not too known in the state, she might pull a surprise because of her closeness to the presidency.
PROFESSOR PAT. UTOMI
Prof Pat Utomu is an erudite scholar, politician, administrator and public affairs analyst. He came into lime-light when he became Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari at the age of 27 years. And as the proprietor of the famous Lagos Business School, Lagos, Prof Utomi is known all over Nigeria. He has presented papers in many important seminars both local and international. His gift of oratory and openness to the discourse of issues of national interest won him the hearts of many Nigerians. He was the presidential candidate of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2007 and 2011 presidential elections. His change of mind to join the race for the Unity House in 2015 has been described by many Deltans as a welcome development even though he has very little number of followers in Delta State.
HON NED NWOKO
Hon Ned Nwoko, the soft spoken gentle man is a former lawmaker who represented Aniocha/Oshimili in the House of Representatives. He contested the Delta State governorship election under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2003 but lost to Chief James Ibori. He was also the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the 2011 Delta North Senatorial elections where he lost to Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. Nwoko is not only a rich politician but also a lawyer of international repute. He is very popular in Delta North and a philanthropist. He is no doubt one of the political heavy weights to watch in the 2015 governorship election.
BEN NGOZI ENWOSE (aka Ben Lion Heart)
Ben Ngozi Enwose, a.k.a, Ben Lion Heart hails from Ilah in Oshimili North local government area of the state. He is a retired Air force Officer and rumoured to have strong structures that will upstage the PDP in 2015. How he will be able to do the magic is still in doubt as he is not known in the state.
