By Mrs. Maria Lori-Idudun

Thursday, May 5th, 2016, the Peoples’ Democratic Party delegates in Warri South Local Government Area in a unanimous decision elected Ms. Omawumi Tseke as the Warri South LGA Woman Leader. The Returning Officer on his part, rightly returned her as the duly elected Woman Leader in the LGA.

Picture of PDP Warri South Woman Leader
Hon. Omawumi Tseke

While one had thought her opponent, Ms. Grace Yomere, as party faithful would exhibit some level of maturity by accepting her loss in good faith and rally round the new executive for the progress of the party, what she has busied herself regurgitating since losing the nomination, are pointless rhetoric, empty sloganeering and cock and bull storytelling that dominated her campaign in the run up to the congress. While she may prefer to pile blatant lies and heap unfounded accusations on the Warri South LGA Woman Leader purely for political consideration, those who really know her all over the LGA can easily see through these unwarranted preoccupations of an opposition that is increasingly exposing herself as a bad loser.

What is by far more important to the future of the party in the LGA is the fact that majority of the party delegates in Warri South, who stood by  Omawumi Tseke, know who they voted for and their minds cannot be poisoned against their choice. There is no gain emphasizing the fact that she enjoys support across the twin constituency that makes up the LGA and a greater appeal than her opponent. In terms of political experience, Omawumi Tseke tower above her opponent.

If one were to offer candid advice to Grace Yomere, she would fare better by not dissipating what little energy and resources she may have left in ventilating her displeasure through needless desperation. The delegates have spoken with their votes by nominating Omawumi Tseke as the LGA Woman Leader. The issue has now become functus officio. As a matter of fact, she cannot reprobate on the matter anymore. The LGA congress are Suris generis, implying they operate within the ambit of time.

As could be gleaned from the felicitations that heralded her emergence as the Warri South LGA Woman Leader, ideally, now is the time for Yomere to shelve all bickering, congratulate the newly elected Exco and then move on with life, after all, opportunities abound elsewhere. A Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, pressure group, the Movement for the Liberation of Warri South LGA, MLW, described Omawumi Tseke as a perfect example of a public officer who is ever ready and willing to work even when there are no financial perks attached. According to the group, her dynamic personality, the clarity of her mind, the catholicity of her ideas and her remarkable talents as an organizer and a community leader infused a new life and determination into the party at the LGA and the people’s hope to dream anew.

The group in a statement signed by its Convener and Secretary, Mrs. Kongbemi Erewa and Mrs. Bridget Obelikpeyah, shortly after the LGA Congress in Warri South LGA, stated that the greatest threat to the party in the LGA, is selfishness, greed and impunity by certain leaders, who rather preferred their continued hegemony than the growth of the party. Their elaborate charade, pretending to be a true reflection of the wishes of the people, is the height of deception.

In their words, “What is clear in this congress is that change has come and it has finally swept away the hegemony in the LGA. Never again will certain character bring the fortune of the party down. From what we have witnessed in this congress, Ms. Tseke has a cult-like followership, and would not need to rent a crowd for a rally, in fact, she may not need to give a notice; all she needs do, is walk down the main streets of Warri and the women will throng along. With her at the saddle, the party has gotten it right and will undoubtedly coast home with victory.”

For me, it is not really surprising that the air is replete with felicitations on her emergence, as she is evidently armed with an impressive CV. A holder of Bachelor’s Degree in Education, she joined politics in 1992 during the NRC/SDP days, thereafter, she journeyed with her leaders to GDM, and later the Zero Party. She is a founding member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in the LGA, and has contributed immensely to the growth of the party at the grassroots level. She was appointed Supervisory Councilor for Education, covering the period of 2012 to 2014 in recognition of her sterling input to the party.

Indeed, the humility, together with other salient qualities of this lioness of Warri South politics deserve the payment of shimmering tribute. It is therefore hoped that going forward, leaders and elders within the party elite will discard their propensity for the political empowerment of stooges to the detriment of genuine intellectuals with a decent vision for the party. All that is required now is the realization that Warri South can do without this degree of desperation. In a contest, especially within political party arrangement, the ultimate right to choose who rules belongs to the delegates. Desperation and impunity do not win elections; but hard work and good campaigns do. Warri South delegates has spoken, and the fruit of their affirmation is Omawumi Tseke. To God alone be all the glory!

…..Mrs. Lori-Idudun is the PDP Woman Leader of Ward 5 in Warri South LGA.