By Godday Odidi
Come May 29, 2015 the administration of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan would expire while a new administration will emerge from one of the sought after political party in Delta state. During Delta state at 20 which the state was created on Tuesday August 29,1991 from the old Bendel state which is now Edo state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan elucidated some of the political and economic achievements since its creation of the state and his led administration. To some extent Delta state have achieved some feats in the area of unity among the ethnic groups in the state. Though some of the regions had ethnic clashes that almost disrupted the unity of the state over the years.Delta state is divided into three senatorial districts , Delta south, Delta central and Delta north. Out of these senatorial districts only Delta south and Delta central have piloted the affairs of the state.
Apart from the military administrators that ruled the state, the Delta central and Delta south have controlled the top positions in the state since when power was handed to the civilian government. The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has been controlling the state without opposition clinching to power. Though the former governor James Ibori vowed to remain in power for 32 years with his so-called nefarious cabals in the state.In 1999, Chief James Ibori who is presently serving his jailed terms in UK over corrupt practices, the then governor of Delta state ruled the state for 8 consecutive years with little achievements and looted the state coffers.PDP is one of the strongest political party in Delta state which other political parties find it difficult to win any election conducted in the state. Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan is a man who has been part and parcel of James Ibori’s government who vividly knew the nitty- gritty of Delta state and headed several sensitive positions in that last administration. Some ethnic groups in Delta state have been totally marginalized and neglected over the years with unfulfilled promises in the making. The Isokos , Kwales and the Aniomas are relegated to the background in recent past years.
Since the emergence of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan as the governor of Delta state in 2007 general elections, Many Deltans never expected him to come to power becauseof his close confidant with the former governor equally created opportunity to come out with landslide victory which many believed the election was marred with irregularities.Even the state PDP torn into two which led to many factions of the party.Some avid political watchers of Delta politics assumed that Uduaghan was conscripted on the good people of Delta state to hid the callous activities of the then governor. In a short while, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has proved his political critics wrong , though he came into power with flaw elections but his personality is different.Although, many Delta who are avid observers of the politics deduce that only selected not elected people are dubiously voted into power without the wishes of the people except few. Chief Leo Ogor. three times serving Federal House Representatives member of the PDP has not done anything to deserve such position. Most of the infrastructural projects embarked upon in Delta are mere media hype with no completion.Some of these representatives needed to be questioned from the local,state and federal governments.Some are only representing their private pockets and nothing else.Even some politicians that left PDP to other political parties to contest election but did not win because of their faulty foundation of their parties.Dr Uduaghan has able to appoint high profile technocrats and experts to oversee his administration over the years.
PDP has the nexus to win election because of its strong foundation and party faithfuls. PDP almost lost in the January 6th 2011 re-run election which Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) nearly captured the state that eventually brought unconstitutionally dissolution of the 25 local governments in the state and appoint caretaker committees to pilot the affairs of the local governments. DPP fought tooth and nail to capture Delta state with many electoral petitions, Even PDP godfather chief Edwin Clark had a frosty relationship with the PDP led faction state chairman for not given his candidacy opportunity to contest election in person of Prof Saliba Mukoro. Even some politicians from Isoko region contested election with the incumbent governor but abysmally failed to secure PDP ticket. Omo- Agege and others were not left out.DPP is currently one of the opposition political party that can run neck to neck with PDP in 2015 with no trepidation. In the last election in the State DPP was able to elect some people in the Delta State House Assembly and senate.There are five major ethnic groups in Delta state, Isokos, Itsekeris, Urhobos, Aniomas Delta-Ijaws and Kwales. Isoko has three state Assembly slots and one federal constituency and two local governments Isoko south and Isoko north.
Although I am a not card-carrier of Uduaghan , but the governor surprised all Deltans on Democracy day when he used that day to advise Delta youths to channel their mindsets towards entrepreneurship skills and deviate their knowledge from oil and gas and others. Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan is the only governor in Nigeria that has put such intellectual programmes together to provide listening voice to the youths. In terms of infrastructural developments, Uduaghan has tried to appease the state. Umeh road and other projects are testimonial gains of PDP-led government in Delta state.In 2007 Delta state governorship election, many political candidates from the opposition parties came on board to contest election with Uduaghan with serious debate of candidates but Uduaghan confidently emerged as the winner of that election with his productive manifestos he unveiled to the people.
One thing Deltans should know that Dr Uduaghan is different from Chief James Ibori with different educational backgrounds but the same family .The fact remains that Uduaghan is a brilliant political leader to the core.PDP is still
strong in Delta politics in as much as opposition parties continue to emerge on daily basis. Most of these opposition leaders were members of the PDP before leadership tussle teared them apart.Some party leaders have since returned to PDP to steer the affairs of the state with their different portfolios.Chief Great Ogboru is one of the opposition leaders in Delta politics and under the platform of the DPP who is not ready to give up power to PDP despite their political suppression from the centre.He is bold to flag up his political mandate without qualms. Great Ogboru contested elections in 2007 and 2011 and narrowly lost to the incumbent governor with some substantial votes.DPP is waxing stronger in the state while other opposition parties like ACN,LP.SMDP,and others are obviously waiting for 2015 and use the media to issue inflammatory statements and nothing else.DPP has able to capture some areas of the PDP , Isoko south and Isoko north who Hon Benjamin Essien of Ivrogbo-irri town who defected from PDP to DPP to realize his political mandate after loosing his State Assembly election in 2007.DPP has also dominated some areas in the state. The DPP members have not failed their people since they were elected into power. The dividends of democracy is shown in the state. The fact still remains that politician is always a politician. It is clarion call for all serving politicians in Delta state to do well now. 2015 will unveil itself to only politicians that have credibly served its people.
BY GODDAY ODIDI. PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANALYST. 08058124798,08063458693,20 ORO STREET AJEGUNLE APAPA LAGOS
