The Ndokwa Nation
As political campaign begins, politicians of various political capacities also begin to meet to discuss, dialogue and to re-align. Normally, congresses are held by the different political parties to usher in a new party executive who would be vested with the ultimate responsibility of conducting primary election for the parties. The Peoples Democratic Party Congress has come and gone. However, due to interest by the various factions of the same party issues that are related with the harmonization of positions are still not clearly resolved. From Delta South to central and to North the problem is the same. As a result, it is still very premature for any faction of the party to claim to have full control of the party executive. The subsequent result and the final output of the congress processes would in a very large way determine the direction of the pendulum which invariably determines the emergence of the would-be candidate of the party. By the zoning formular of the Peoples Democratic Party and by all standards, it is the turn of the Delta North to produce the next Governor of Delta State. The idea of power rotation though presently undemocratic would ensure that every senatorial districts benefits from the control of the state. Power rotation makes it easier for districts that would ordinarily not capable of producing the Governor if left alone to be able to do so. Power rotation or zoning is absolutely based on understanding. It leads to peace, stability and promotes unity among the party if well handled. Faithfulness and sacrifice is needed in keeping with the tenets of power rotation. It is a tested fact, that no senatorial zone is capable of producing the Governor of the state without serious political input from other Districts. This is why the power rotation is needed seriously.
With undented faithfulness and full implementation of this weak political and democratic arrangement Delta North would find it easy to come on board as the Governor of Delta State in 2015.
It is not contestable for now that the PDP is the strongest party in Delta State having being in control since 1999.
We know that this zoning formula is not binding on other political parties since it is only a Democratic practice of the PDP alone. To this end, therefore, the Peoples Democratic Party has to be completely painstaking in its application come 2015 in order not to play into the hands of an emerging political parties and so loose control of the state.
Meanwhile, the power contest come 2015 is going to centre in Delta North as PDP is concerned This power struggle will centre mainly among three ethnic groups in Delta North such as the Aniocha ethnic group, Ika ethnic group and the Ndokwa ethnic group. These ethnic groups are related in many ways. They have same language spoken in slightly different ways. They have same culture and common identity. In synopsis, they are called ANIOMA which better defines the relationship between all of them. Apart from the Deputy Governor position which they had filled twice since the inception of democracy in 1999, they have not made any meaningful impact on the area of the governor of the state. Although a few of the political gladiators from the district had made some inroads into the seat of the governor but failed due to lack of unity among them. Individualistic political approach has remained a main pathology to the success of ascending into the governorship seat of Delta State.
The Aniochas though have not made any attempt at the governorship seat but they are, however, no push overs as modern power configuration indicates. Currently, it is an Aniocha man that is occupying the third position in terms of power configuration in the state. This man also has the greatest control of the legislature which is a plus to the Aniocha people. Their son was the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state which is another plus to the Aniocha people. The big names in Aniocha area include His Honour, Benjamin Elue, Hon. Victor Ochei, Hon. Tony Nwaka, Hon. Ned Nwoko, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Paschal Adigwe, Hon. Paul Uwechie, Hon. Agbubu Frank, Chief Philip Asiodu and others.
On the part of the lkas a few of them had made attempt of becoming the governor of the state. In terms of politics of Delta State are seen as being very tough as they know when and how to enter and not to enter. They are calculative enough as they do not always want to be rendered irrelevant. They are good followers. They were the first from Anioma to produce a Deputy Governor of the state. Politicians from lka land have occupied very strategic positions in the executive capacity of the state since inception of contemporary democracy in Nigeria. Some of the political tacticians well known from this area are Ambassador Echijile Godson, Hon Ojugbo Cairo, Senator lfeanyi A. Okowa, Hon. Sam Obi, His Excellency, Simeon Ebonka, Hon Okonta Martins, Hon. Festus Okubor etc.
Ndokwa Nation harbours few political gladiators that cannot be taking for granted anytime and anywhere in Delta State. Ndokwa Nation actually presents almost tremendously an antithetical picture in relation to the Aniocha nation and the lkas. Ndokwa nation contributes much to the economic growth and development of Delta State as it remain a major oil producing area in the state. This fact is not debatable as oil is the main source of finance to government
Politicians from Ndokwa land had severally actively participated in the contest for the governorship seat of the state. They are not neophytes as far as the position of Governor is concerned. Dr. Godwin lwegbue during the days of the defunct Bendel in 1979 contested for the post of Governor thereby setting the pace for the demystification of the struggle for the seat of governor. After him, came Professor Eric Agume Opia, then Chief Godwill Obielum. The above political tacticians have vast political experience having attempted the impossible. Other main political actors from this area encapsulates senator Patrick Osakwe, Professor B.I.C. Ijeoma, Hon. Sam Osasa, Chief Godwill Obielum, Hon. Ossai .N. Ossai, Ogbuefi Eric Obodoukwu Anigala, Chief Okenmor Fidelis Tilije, Hon. Ugboma George, Hon. Olise Imegu, Hon. Emeke J. Ukpe and Chief Festus Ochonogor. Others are Hon. Onyekwele Charles (Okpuchiniowoli), Hon Mercy Almona lseh, Chief Agnes Uduehi and others.
Oshimili people are not left out from the political power game of Anioma in particular and Delta State in general. There are lot of political bigwigs from the area who have powerful connection across Delta State and Nigeria itself. People like Chief Peter Eloka Okocha, Hon. Nnaemeka Mariam Au, Chief Barrister Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP Chairman), senator Azinge Epiphani, Professor Fidelis Odita, Professor Pat Utomi, Hon. Austine lzagbo and many more are the main political figures from this area of Anioma nation.
From the forgoing, the likely prognosis about the race to the topmost post in 2015 is that it is going to be very tough. The four zones in Delta North are tremendously peopled with high profile political wizards.
However, my prediction in this paper is that Ndokwa Nation will have the upper hand due to long time experience and the advantage of being the only oil producing area in Delta North.
The ball will soon be set rolling but for now it is still too early and premature to conclude on where the pendulum will swing to. In the case of Ndokwa nation just like Ika Nation some melodramatic signs are expected. The lineup for the governorship position is going to be keenly contested for in this two zones of Anioma nation.
NDOKWA POLITICAL LINE-UP
The zoning of power to Delta North by PDP in 2015 is no longer questionable as the national PDP has continued to retain same in its constitution. Delta central has exhausted its two tenures of eight years while the Delta South will be completing its two tenures by 2015. By every calculation, power will definitely rotate to Delta North in 2015 as this will ensure and enthrone equanimity in the state. At the end, no senatorial district will feel marginalized by that calculation. At the final whistle, the following political gladiators are likely to contest the position from Ndokwa Nation.
Chief Godwill Obielum: Chief Godwill Obielum has all it takes to match any political gladiator from any part of Delta North. He has after 2007 deadlock remained a tested and proven faithful party man. His contributions to the growth and development of the party is actually enormous. He is a dignified and reputable political wizard not only in Delta North but in Delta State as a whole. He is loved at home and has very sound relationship with numerous people both in Delta North and other senatorial districts. He has the political strength and the economic power to prosecute the 2015 project. However, certain factors may limit his chances if not tactically handled. One of these factors include internal struggle between what we would term his faction and other factions in Ndokwa nation in particular and Delta in general. This factional differences is a real minus to his success in clincing the position come 2015. To enable him succeed he has to go extra mile. Dialogue, alignment and re-alignment will assist him if it is done patiently.
Senator Patrick Osakwe: Another great political missile is Senator Patrick Osakwe. Senator Patrick Osakwe is a three time senator of the federal republic of Nigeria who represented Delta North in the upper chambers of the parliament. A dogged fighter and political calculator who knows when and how to strike since failure is totally abhorred by him. A successful politician and father to many. He is highly reputable and revered across Delta North. Senator Osakwe has an unbeatable connection with politicians of undiluted importance in both Delta North and other senatorial districts. He is a very intimate friend to the incumbent Governor and the former Governor. In most cases, he has always been a later starter but once he rises he will definitely achieve his objective. It is not certain whether he will contest but judging by his past profile one can safely predict that he may. The only thing that may work against him is not being able to carry many people along. However, he stands a chance of making it when the bell is ranged.
Chief Barrister Sam Osasa is another high profile politician from Ndokwa Nation whom political pundits believed belong to the old block. This belief emanated from the view that he has represented Ndokwa nation at the National Assembly in the lower chambers. Howbeit, the “Barr” as fondly called by people is not a political neophyte. Having being a member of parliament, he might have gleaned an unchallengeable experience which places him high among his contemporaries. The Barr. is currently, the Special Advisor to the immediate minister of Niger Delta Ministry, Hon. Godsday Orubebe. He may not possess the financial capacity to holistically challenge bigwigs like Patrick Osakwe and Chief Godwill Obielum but wait a minute, he however, has a superstructure which others may not possess. Being close to politicians like Orubebe Godsday, Peter Nwaboshi, Cairo Ojugbo may work magic for him when he finally decides to run.
The big question now is this, can these politicians work together to produce just one person ‘who may have the all-round capacity to face others from within the senatorial districts? Will they agree to improve the sorry situation of Ndokwa nation? Can they be humble and patriotic enough to come down for the man with the capabilities which include finance, good political clout, intelligence, vociferousness, high level of social ties across the senatorial district and Delta State, highly loved at home (Ndokwa land), experience on the job and patriotic to his primordial constituency. If these men will work together in order to produce one aspirant who will in turn contest with our brothers from the Aniocha, Ika and Oshimili then Ndokwa nation would stand tall in 2015 as the advantage of being the only oil producing nation in Anioma land. Let us work in tandem to prosecute the 2015 governorship project.
