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Author: Onome Asuwata
Posted to the web: 8/23/2005 7:51:15 AM

New trends in world politics have shown that political office holders managing the reins of government do fall within a certain age bracket. It is not by accident that Mr. Bill Clinton, a former President of the United States of America, Mr. John Major, one-time Prime Minister of Great Britain, the incumbent British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair and many heads of government elected today all over the world are all under 50 years old. The sheer weight aid strain of governance in this complex world of information super high way, information technology and super computers is progressing at such a dizzying pace that only a youthful body and alert mind can understand, keep pace and make discernible progress. Even back home here in Nigeria, the wonder kids in government and business that are visibly performing to the admiration of all were under fifty when they took office. Talk of an El Rufai, Okonjo Iweala, the Oby Ekwesili; a Folu Adeola, Jim Ovia, Wale Tinubu and many others. The object of this article is the politics of Delta State, the geographical area of Nigeria that is famed for its complexities of numerous ethnic coloration within a relatively small space of Nigeria’s vast expanse of land. This area also boasts of very high literacy levels by Nigeria’s standard. It is blessed by God Almighty with a very rich deposit of petroleum products and many other natural minerals and an all-year-round weather suitable for agriculture. The Delta State governorship race towards 2007 throws up serious challenges for the electorate to make informed judgement and choice from the array of contenders for Governor James Ibori’s job when he leaves office in obedience to the constitution. Because of the emerging reality of power shift in the political firmament of the state and because one senatorial zone appears to be more hungry and vociferous for the coveted post, we shall concern ourselves with analyzing the candidates from Delta North. Understandably, our scrutiny should start from Mr. Benjamin Elue. He is the incumbent Deputy Governor. Naturally he should be the heir apparent, having served the incumbent Governor for the past six years loyally and hoping to do so till 2007. However, going by the trend in world politics today captured by this article, he way beyond it as he is tending towards 70 already. We all know that at 70 the body is weak, energy low, mental alertness may be poor and body developmental processes are on the reverse. He should be encouraged to retire to the comfort of his home after eight years of meritorious service to Delta State. If loyalty is the only criteria, he will adequately serve certain interests even to the neglect of his own people. But thank God, the state will ever wait to move forward, not backwards. Next in line is Mr. Peter Okocha, acclaimed businessman, well into his fifties. As the Chairman/CEO of many companies, he may be too concerned with the continued good health of his businesses that the jealous attention the state will require of its chief servant may be compromised. However, he is still within the age bracket. Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. G. Obielum is another serious contender to the post. He is in his fifties. Ordinarily his training, background and probably national network ought to stand him in good stead to be entrusted with managing the huge material, financial and human resources of the state. He is reported to be stupendously rich, with liquid assets running into billions of naira. But money alone is not what is required to govern a state, besides we should start shunning money politics. Another candidate is Dr.Cairo Ojougboh, a medical doctor-turned politician. He is a member of the Federal House of Representatives and is the current chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum. He is in his mid-forties and so has age on his side. He appears to have energy in good supply. He has shown that he is hungry and thirsty for the post of governor and he is making a bold go at it. His intellectual qualities have been deliberately played down by adversaries that you cannot but be impressed at the academic soundness. He however has to convince his supposedly neutral governor of his loyalty and assure him of life devoid of witch hunting in retirement. Chief Godson Echegile is another candidate, an acclaimed financial wizard. He was the very first to announce his interest to enter the race in 2007. He is in his 40’s so has age on his side. However his political experience is suspect. We hear that a serving commissioner from the same zone in the person of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is strategically making steady progress towards capturing the coveted post when the current state executive council is dissolved. It is strongly rumoured that all serving commissioners have been told by the governor His Excellency Chief James Ibori to prepare their hand over notes. Whatever the situation, a scrutiny of Dr. Okowa’s credentials within the subject matter in focus will not be out of place. Dr Okowa is in his late forties and so perfectly fits the bill for the job going by our postulations here. He has been in government for a very long time and so knows in fine details the workings of government. He is a two-term commissioner under the incumbent governor so we can take it for granted that he is loyal to the governor and with him as governor, Chief James Ibori can party in his Oghara country home forever without any twitch of heart over anything. Dr. Okowa is opinionated and can canvass for 'his people'. He feathers his political empire very well by dispensing political patronage to political followers. His political virtues are many and commendable. It is not for Dr. Okowa’s sake that the talk of power shift gained currency in Delta State. In fact he had resigned himself to the fait accompli that the next governor of the state will still be an Urhobo man. His group, which has heavyweights, like the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and political heavy weight, Chief Ighoyota Amori, still believe that nobody from Delta North is deserving of occupying the number one seat in the state. But his willingness to bring his senatorial zone to play second fiddle to the other two zones makes him the beneficiary of the support of the two zones should power shift to Delta North becomes a fait accompli. All in all, the people of Delta North, it seems, will fare better with Dr. Cairo Ojougboh as governor of Delta State come 2007. It is to Dr. Cairo’s credit the battle cry for power shift has been strong and consistent in the state. But it is not a decision for Delta Northerners alone, so Dr. Cairo and his campaign organization should work assiduously to get the tacit support of the other zones. He should do more to convince us that he will perform if given the mandate like the Saraki’s, the Nnamani’s, etc. He should build more bridges of friendship across the state and prove to the young ones that he is a worthy role model in the politics of today and tomorrow in the country. •Dr Onome Asuwata writes from Warri, Delta State.