By Emmanuel Enebeli
KWALE/Nigeria: As the Delta State Local Government Area (LGA) elections approach, Mr. Ossai Udom, a prominent voice in the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, has issued a call for unity and progress, especially to the Ukwuani Local Government (ULG) and other constituents. Udoma highlighted concerns over the perceived undemocratic processes marking the emergence of probable candidates but emphasized the unique opportunity these elections present for collective advancement.
“There are no individual winners or losers in this election,” Udom stated in a social media post. “It’s a win-win for everyone, regardless of which candidate they support.”
Addressing the dominance of ruling parties, he assured constituents that future political contests would be driven by the electorate’s choices. “While the ruling parties may dominate, it will not be business as usual. Political contestation will increasingly be among parties, with the people determining the true winners.”
Udom stressed the importance of unity post-election, urging leaders to prioritize development over personal or party agendas. “We remain a family. The intense and sometimes unhealthy campaigns have underscored a new awareness and maturity among our people. Leaders must now focus on development issues rather than personal or party agendas.”
He further emphasized the need for equity, fairness, and justice, pursued with decorum to avoid enmity. “At the heart of politics and political office is the welfare of the people. Political offices should be about service to all, not self-interest or favoritism.”
He denounced the issue of factionalism in local elections, warning against the near do-or-die mentality that has emerged. “The fierce discussions between camps have dangerously turned into a near do-or-die affair. This mentality must change. The favored candidate, pending the real elections, must be magnanimous to all to ensure unity continues.”
Urging constituents to avoid divisiveness, he said, “If your candidate does not win, it does not make you a loser. We must avoid allowing divisiveness to creep into Ndokwa/Ukwuani politics. We must play politics like true democrats, avoiding silos and fostering collective development.”
He expressed concern over the rise of political lexicons like Egbaoma and Akasiede, which he believes could fragment communities and hinder overall development.
“Our collective quest should be for competence, integrity, commitment to consultation, accountability to the people, selflessness, and a focus on overall development. Nigeria faces significant challenges due to narrow considerations like clanship and communalism at the expense of commitment and competence. We live with the consequences of these decisions today.”
He concluded with a call for collectivism and service-oriented politics. “My brethren, think through this and embrace collectivism for the growth of the whole. Let’s ensure our political contests are about serving our communities and fostering development.”
