By: Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe.
As we approach the Delta party primaries in November, supporters of different gubernatorial aspirants have resorted in unpleasant war of words in the mass media. Several attacks in the media especially social media have started rearing their ugly heads all in defense of tribal and ethnic politics on the one hand and political loyalists against loyalists battling for the attention of electorates and prime time party leaders on the other hand.
The Senator Okowa supporters are lashing out on the Obuh supporters while Hon Ochei followers are insulting Mrs. Olejeme’s supporters. Ovie Omo Agege supporters are not in good terms with the supporters of the other Urhobo gubernatorial aspirants, it is fierce and calls for caution. This is taking politics to far. Some of these attacks in the print and social media comments are viewed and read worldwide which is why we must be decent in our political communication. All the aspirants are Deltans and majority of them are well known to the people, just as the frontline aspirants are of the PDP extraction.
It must be stated that we are one united family and must not war but sell our respective aspirants to the good people of Delta State and let the winner be our party flag bearer and leader. After party primaries we are certainly going to work for the party candidate, so why create enemies over an issue that will determine itself in November? It does not make sense to over express our political loyalty. The candidates are not abusing themselves, so why should the supporters mess themselves up in the print and social media? This is not the ideal way to go in the 21st century political scheming.
The ideal thing for aspirants’ supporters to do is to keep projecting their respective aspirants till after the party primaries and then queue behind party candidates for 2015 governorship election in the State. This is the way to go. More worrisome is the series of media attacks and telephone calls threatening some of us who are of the view that Delta North deserves to take a shot at the Unity House, Asaba.
A large number of us strongly believe that equity and good conscience is the best way to promote peace, unity and good neighborliness which is why we opted to support the Delta North, particularly the candidacy of Sir Tony Chuks Obuh, a retired permanent secretary in the state civil service. Obuh as it were, has suddenly become the toast of the gubernatorial race because of the calibre of political tacticians who have so far thrown their weights behind his candidacy.
I have written several articles in the past in defense of the Obuh candidacy and I have also tried to explain in clear terms why state power must of a necessity shift to Delta North. My views and opinions are not different from those of other right thinking Deltans. Chief James Onanefe Ibori is from Delta Central and controlled the state machinery for eight years. Incumbent Governor Uduaghan is from Delta South and he is about now completing his eight years in office and will be representing his senatorial district at the senate in 2015.
Upon creation of Delta State twenty three years ago, Chief Felix Ibru from Delta Central was elected as the first Executive Governor of the State. It is therefore reasonable, responsible and ideal for political power to shift to Delta North in 2015. The fact that the State capital is located in Asaba, is not a valid reason for Delta North not to produce the next Governor of the state. Asaba is a home to all Deltans in terms of ownership and as of right by virtue of the fact that it is the state capital.
Today, Abuja is the federal capital of Nigeria, and no sane person will muster the courage to say that the North should not aspire to seek federal power to occupy Aso Rock. General Babaginda, General Abacha, General Abdulsalam and President Yar’Adua from the Northern axis occupied Aso Rock as presidents of this country even though the seat of power is located in the Northern part of Nigeria.
The various political appointments currently occupied by sons and daughters of Delta North Senatorial District were earned through their solid and well crafted political connections. Therefore, we the Urhobos of Delta Central should not envy them. What is necessary is for the Urhobo people in juicy political offices both at state and federal levels to use their good offices to place our people and young politicians in strategic political positions and offices. To jealous Delta North is not ideal, not morally and constitutional tenable.
The story today is that those of us who are in support of the Obuh candidacy are enemies of the Urhobo Nation and have been declared deviants for not complying with the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Uvbiamuge Declaration which seeks to produce a free born Urhobo politician as the fourth democratically elected Governor of Delta State in 2015. It is frustrating to know that some of our people deliberately refused to understand a simple political calculation as explained above, taking into consideration the political power game of Delta State since its creation twenty three years ago.
The pressure is getting “RED” by the day as some of us have been attacked in print and social media for not buying into the Urhobo Agenda. I have received phone calls from some of our people who rebuked me for writing persuasive articles in the national dailies and for making substantial social media comments urging Deltans and the Urhobo ethnic nationalities to support the Obuh candidacy.
The print and social media attacks have progressed to an extent where loyalists within the same political camp and for the support of the same candidate are now engaged in “under carpet” scheming. The point must be made that in every political camp or system there are all kinds of people with different skills and talents. Some are local mass mobilizers, others are opinion leaders and some others are financial heavy weights who support candidates at various levels. Within the system you also have intellectuals and professionals whose skills are required to oil the electioneering machinery. Everyman to his own gift and these gifts put together produces superlative results during campaigns and at the polls.
I think it is time to do away with petty sentiments and squabbles and be focused on the huge electioneering task ahead. Nobody should be seen as been too forceful in the discharge of his or her voluntary electioneering responsibilities because the political terrain is not a gentleman’s arena.
We should all realise that politics is full of surprises which is why we must adopt different strategies during various stages of democratic processes. Major aspirants should also watch the kind of people they pull along as some of their followers and confidants may be defective in strategic political engineering while others wet or dry ego as well as arrogant conduct can provoke anger and division within the system.
Media managers of political aspirants must of a necessity be men and women of sound minds, absolutely friendly, not divisive, not selfish and not self centered. An arrogant media manager for a good aspirant can cause political injuries within the system and create unnecessary division and political anarchy.
It is therefore mandatory that as we enter another era of political electioneering, media managers and other strategic people in the main stream of mass mobilization techniques must do the needful not to hurt those who are resourceful, working with zeal for the success of their aspirants. Arrogance and wet-ego must not be one of the attributes of gubernatorial aspirant’s handlers, especially media and campaign managers.
As for the phone calls and social media attacks, it is uncivilized for anyone to insult or abuse a fellow Deltan for pitching tent with any candidate of his or her choice. The beauty of democracy is freedom of choice which must be respected as entrenched in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Chapter Four of the constitution is a must read for every literate Nigerian.
Our fundamental human rights as citizens of this great nation are entrenched in that chapter. In as much as we love the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) and respect the institution as the global body for the preservation of the Urhobo culture and heritage, it is also true that as individuals we hold out our political views which must be respected.
There are people who do not believe in equity whereas some others do. When this happens, the centre can no longer hold and there is bound to be divergent views politically. These mixed-grills of opinions must not be taken to mean disrespect for the Urhobo Nation but that it is politically expected that all of us cannot believe in the same political ideology, moral reasoning or political calculation.
Delta State is one united family irrespective of senatorial districts. We all inter-married and as such we are tied-together in love, blood and brotherhood. I believe that the world is not coming to an end in eight years time which is why we must allow Delta North to rule. It is my candid wish that Sir Tony Chuks Obuh to take the slot of that senatorial districts in 2015. I have confidence that the Obuh’s ticket will be a solid bridge builder because he is free from past political controversies and well known to be detribalized. He is a super technocrat with sound credentials.
In conclusion therefore, power shift to Delta North will be a healing balm that will further cement the already cordial relationships, peace, love, unity and progress so far achieved in the three senatorial districts in Delta State since her creation twenty three years ago. It is obvious that after the Delta North tenure, the Central will again produce another Governor.
Patient and equity are prime factors in this matter and I urge our great Urhobo leaders and the leadership of the UPU to temper justice with mercy by reversing Uvbiamuge declaration for the purpose of equity and good conscience. It is time for the Urhobo Nation to work for the success of Delta North gubernatorial candidate in the present political dispensation so as to be politically relevant when government is constituted in 2015.
Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, is a socio-economic and political analyst.
