The passage of Pius Akpo Ewherido into the great beyond, has created opportunity for the making of another Senator to represent the Delta State Central Senatorial seat in the Senate Chamber at Abuja.
That is life. A generation comes, a generation goes and it is only the earth that remains forever. Goodbye to “Gogorogo”; the amiable Ewherido! Welcome to another person! But who would this person be?
As the October 5, 2013 date of the by-election into the vacant seat comes closer, we need to be reminded that it is going to be purely Urhobo people affairs. Yes, the Delta Central Senatorial Zone is purely occupied by the Urhobo people, the fifth largest tribe in Nigeria. Expectedly therefore, lots of dynamics are already playing out on who, amongst many sons and daughters of the Urhobo Nation, emerges to occupy the seat.
The bitter truth that needs to be pointed out here and now is the fact that too many external influences [outside the Urhobo Nation and her people] will play diversified roles, much so that the right person might not emerge. Permit me to draw our attention to the national broadcast made by General Olusegun Obasanjo in his capacity as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces on the eve of the 1979 general election that ushered in the second republic.
“As Nigerians go to the poll tomorrow to elect their President, they should bear in mind that the most qualified candidate might not necessarily win”.
What that [the broadcast] meant became interpretation of various schools of thought until the interpretation was crowned by the twelve-two-third judgement, delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The reference being drawn by this writer here is that, like the case above, other factors than those in the control of the Urhobo people of Delta State can play a “stranger” up as senator representing this dynamic people in the Senate. A look at few of such likely factors will suffice here – just for posterity and for historical records.
The Governor of the State is keenly interested in who succeeds Ewherido for strategic reason for his personal political survival and that of his tribe. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan grew up an Urhobo, in Urhobo land with ability to navigate tough and rough waters of Urhobo to safety in Urhobo shore.
Yes, he became the Governor of this vibrant State of Delta by the “finger” of Urhobo man – James Onanefe Ibori. Yet, the truth holds that Emmanuel Uduaghan is not an Urhobo man. Given his ancestral background [forget about the place where he grew up which is accidental], will he be a “broad way” of paving the road for emergence of purposeful leader to represent and organise the Urhobo people for a position of stronger nationality within its nationality contemporaries? I doubt if the generosity of Uduaghan can go that far.
Another factor is the financial background of contending candidates in the race. How many of them are financially viable outside government before now? Yes, l am aware of O’tega Emorhor who has been a financial institution from inception [which may not translate into political heavy weight of course] and Ede Dafinone [who tapped into his father’s wealth], most of them are financially made by governments. It means therefore that those that are in control of power of today can throw-up the very worst of Urhobo man to become the next senator.
Will Ighoyota Amori make it? Huh! Did l hear that Ovie Omo Agege is in the race to represent the good people of Urhobo? Fred Majemite, my own personal bosom friend is coming up mightily with the backing of the Deputy Governor. Let us see how far he can go. Festus Keyamo, the firebrand lawyer from Lagos, no doubt has fought many battles in his career. I think he has decided his case with his “own” party (APC) already without taking into heart the place of the Lord of the Political Jungle in Lagos, Ahmed Bola Tinubu. How could my brother Festus have done that?
I may not be able to mention all the contenders [both serious and pretenders] here for lack of space – forgive me please. Permit me to end this piece by asking the most authoritative question.
Where is Professor Samson Oyovbaire in this race to the Senate? If only he had shown interest he would have been the best the Urhobo would have produced for the glorious chamber of the Senate. My God!
The “Ebora Owu” – the legendary Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said it all: “The best might not necessarily emerge”. And if Professor Oyovbaira cannot emerge due to oppressive factor, there is no way he could have won in a contest he never contested – meaning he would never be in the Senate to represent the Delta Central Senatorial Zone.
Yet, it is him l salute greatly as we shall miss him seriously in the Senate of the Federal Republic. Such is life!
*Mr Etakibuebu, a political analyst, wrote from Warri
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