Posted by By Paul Odili on
There seem to be no end to the number of governorship aspirants eyeing Delta state government house, Asaba....
There seem to be no end to the number of governorship aspirants eyeing Delta state government house, Asaba. The category of those seeking this office ranges from those regarded as close James Ibori associates to those, who, fired by their personal ambition have come out to explain their mission and canvass public support to succeed the incumbent in 2007. Imbedded in this broad categorisation are the serious and the unserious; those merely posturing, and those stalking the political terrain in carefully calculated movement.
However it is looked at, the political scene is throwing up all sorts of creatures, and this is the way it should be. As they come out, it multiplies the option before the people. So, it is in this context that the governorship aspiration of Barrister Ovie Omo-Agege, Commissioner of Special Duties should be examined. He has not declared his intention to run at least publicly, but every move he has managed has generated some interest. Omo-Agege, before his elevation was Ibori's Executive Assistant in charge of the same portfolio of special duties. Ordinarily, his office could be regarded as nothing more than a sinecure position, going by his own description of what he does for his boss. He says in an interview with Vanguard that his work is doing those little things that makes it easy for the governor to stay focus on his job. Not a strange position, considering the heavy pressure most chief executives confront everyday.
Although, Omo-Agege, could not say in specific terms, what his daily schedule looks like, it can be inferred that what he does is what the governor wants him to do. In his words: ' I see myself as the guy who takes away his gray hair and keep him focused on the larger picture. I do those little things for him and for that reason, I am in contact with virtually everyone that comes to see him. Where you have a genuine case to see him I make arrangement with the Director of Protocol for you to see him."
Continuing about his job, he says: ' In most parts those things that are brought to his attention, which I can otherwise handle, I handle them. I attend to the letters sent to him by acknowledging them and where there is need to reply to any, which I think I can do, I reply."
Tall, bespectacled and well built, Omo-Agege, speaks with the tinge of American accent, perhaps on account of his 13 year sojourn in the US, where he practiced as a lawyer. In talking about his job, he does so without airs, but at the same time manages to convey the impression that he is a powerful man in Ibori's government. This is so because when a man can determine who sees the governor and what memo to reply to on behalf of his boss can only mean he has power. In the power game, closeness to the principal is power, and when the same functionary has the freedom to use his discretion to determine who the principal sees, then such a fellow is usually not the man to toy with. In Omo-Agege's case, it does look like he has a lot of elbow room to operate.
Having served Ibori in close capacities, and being close to the throne for years, it does seem Omo-Agege has developed his own ideas and might be hoping to succeed his boss. And it is perhaps here that some attention is paid to whatever he is up to. The story in Delta today is that he has the governor's support and is tipped to run; Omo-Agege denies that his boss is his principal supporter. He says people are spreading such rumours to undermine him. The other factor is that it is known in Delta that he has began putting down some machinery on the ground to pursue his governorship ambition. Some vehicles are believed to have been acquired in his name preparatory for a formal launch. So does Omo-Agege have Ibori's backing? There is some dispute over this. Some say he does, others say he does not. For those who have followed the power game in Delta state, they believe that the struggle to succeed Ibori is going to be very fierce, and Omo-Agege is keen to test his popularity. Still, his coming out party has been controversial. This should be no surprise, being close to the 'throne', and from Urhobo dominated Delta Central, that do not believe in power shift, Omo-Agege must have reckoned that if power remains with his people, he is best qualified for the job. Considering the kind of job he does, Omo-Agege must have ramped up enough of enemies, who are envious of his position. At the same time it might be said he may have been less than astute in going about his governorship race. Whatever opinion anyone holds, Omo-Agege maintains governorship is not on the cards. But few political observers in Delta believe him, they point at his close relationship with Chief Chris Uba, a power broker close to the President as an example. They say he is lobbying Uba for support; no one has proved this, and it may well turn out to be one of those rumours.
Despite the trappings of power, Omo-Agege to his credit has managed to elude public attention. Not many people in his position could have handled it better. When asked why nobody knew about him until now, he says his job never allowed him the opportunity to do so. He also hinted that he had no wish to be misunderstood by anyone, because this could have exposed him to vicious attacks from rivals. Now the honeymoon is over. Omo-Agege may have startled his opponents with his action. If the whispering campaign going on about him is anything to go by, his date with his opponents have finally come. Can he pull it off? The calculation is unclear, but going to the deep end as it is believed he wants to will be one challenging enterprise.
Yet, he maintains that his boss has not given him any preferential treatment, even though he acknowledges that a lot of people would give their right hands to be in his position. In dismissing any talk that he is the governor's right hand man, Omo-Agege tries to wriggle out: ' Right hand man" he says in surprise. ' Does that not presuppose that the governor has favourite commissioner?," he asks. Continuing he says, ' I have not heard it, anyway, and if people are saying that I hope they don't mean that the governor gives me preferential treatment because it is not in his character to discriminate. I, as an individual don't know him as such. He has one single constituency, which is Delta state. All this talk of right hand man, I am not aware of it." Will this mollify those who believe Omo-Agege is the governors candidate? Time will tell.