The debate as to how the Urhobo nation can produce the governor of Delta State in 2015 has been raging for quite some time. Only recently, an interesting but intriguing aspect has been thrown up! This aspect relates to the party platform that can deliver an Urhobo governor in 2015.
At a gathering of the UPU with a select group of Urhobo politicians at Uvwiamuge, an alleged position of the UPU was declared, now known as the “Uvwiamuge Declaration”, to the effect that the UPU and, indeed, the whole of Urhobo nation will be rallied to support and deliver as governor ONLY an Urhobo candidate that emerged from either the PDP or the APC! The reasoning allegedly posited for this declaration is that these are the two competing national parties that are strong enough to protect the long term interest of the Urhobo nation.
That Urhobo is done with supporting mushroom, one man parties as, indeed, she did with the DPP to disastrous consequences in the 2010 and 2011 elections. The declaration was apparently meant to send a clear message to all Urhobo sons and daughters that all should now seek their ambitions in either of these two big platforms!
If indeed such declaration was made, it was not far-fetched to identify who was its major casualty! Of course, the DPP and its perennial governorship candidate, the one and only Chief Great Ogboru! Right there at the Uvwiamuge meeting where the alleged declaration was made, it was reported that one Chief Lance Orhierhor, a DPP party official, rose to immediately challenge the declaration, but was shouted down by the overwhelming support of other attendees!
Events after this meeting have shown clearly that the DPP/Chief Ogboru would not be taken in or deterred by such “whimsical” position by UPU in its mission to produce the governor in 2015! The DPP has now allegedly coalesced into the Labour Party and is currently on the move putting its election structure in place, UPU declaration notwithstanding!
Just recently, one Onajite Ese, writing in the Urhobo Voice of July 21, 2014 edition, dared to take on the DPP/Labour challenge of the UPU declaration, accusing the party and Ogboru of disobedience and ingratitude and setting out to play a spoiler role in the Urhobo 2015 quest to produce a governor! The duo of Messrs Efe Duku and Zik Zulu Okafor, known attack guns of the DPP, took on Onajite Eze for his audacity.
Now, in the quest for Urhobo governor in 2015, who is out there to deceive, who is out there day-dreaming and who is on a serious course? There can be no debate that of all the political parties, the easiest and most assured route to the governorship seat is the PDP! But would the PDP give their guber ticket to an Urhobo? The PDP has an unwritten zoning formula in place that has been implemented twice to favor Delta Central ( Urhobo) and Delta South, and now set to favor Delta North.
Two, Delta North appears more well positioned and better equipped to clinch the ticket all things considered; financial resources, closeness to the Presidency as measured by appointees in government, support from the larger idi-gbo in government, preparation, etc. Truly and seriously, is there any factor out there that makes a reasonable right thinking Urhobo man hopeful that he will clinch the PDP ticket? Are we not witnesses to how the Urhobo was ignored and treated disdainly and had to crawl and after so much cry and hue was she settled with a ministerial position at the very twilight of the administration?
Does the PDP really count the population advantage of Urhobo for anything? Having “won” two guber elections in Delta (2010 & 2011) inspite of near zero Urhobo vote, would they care enough to “grant” Urhobo the favor of its guber ticket? I believe not! I dare to say that quite soon Urhobo candidates running for the PDP ticket will wake up from their day-dreaming slumber and face the truth. Even now those serious among them are only sleeping with one eye closed. They confess to those close to them that for Urhobo to get the governorship, they may be required to do the abominable and support an Urhobo outside PDP at the right time!
What is the source of hope of the DPP/Labour Party? What is their argument? Here it goes:”Labour Party is an affiliate of PDP, very friendly to President Jonathan, working for Jonathan. He has reached a deal with Ogboru to ensure Labour has advantage over PDP in Delta. He wants to reward Urhobo for its population but can’t do it through the PDP and hence he wants to do it through Ogboru/Labour!” Is anybody out there listening to this?
Has anyone out there ever heard more garbage talk than this? Who in his right senses will cook up this garbage and for what purpose? That Jonathan will dump Delta PDP for the sake of rewarding Urhobo with governor through Ogboru? Also listen to this! Since 2010 and 2011, Ogboru has been on this path, saying Jonathan has promised to make him governor through the courts! Is he governor today?
Mr Onajite Ese made a great point by stating that Ogboru is perhaps the only living person that has been the greatest beneficiary of Urhobo goodwill and sacrificial support without commensurate gratitude, and the pair of Efe Duku and Okafor tried hard to skin him alive! Urhobos have stood, not once, not twice suicidally behind him at the risk of their blood and future, yet inspite of squandering those opportunities, what now is he concocting?
Let it be clear to all and sundry that Labour Party is here for one and only one purpose; to be used by the PDP as decoy. To be used to split the Urhobo vote as would be the case when PDP eventually gives the guber ticket to the North! To give PDP the perfect narratives; after all, Urhobo had two candidates, one from Labour, the other from APC, what do you expect?
If any agreement is in place, it is the agreement between PDP, Labour and Ogboru to thwart the governorship quest of the Urhobo nation through muddling up the Urhobo waters while a Delta North candidate sails through! Labour cannot and would not under any arrangement produce an Urhobo governor while PDP stands idly by, mark my words!
Credible alternative
The APC came to be, out of the generally frustrations and desire of Nigerians for a credible alternative to the rampaging rudderless PDP. The party was well received by Nigerians and soon became a truly national alternative party! The truth also is that the party today is facing a lot of challenges both from the ruling PDP which is on a mission to kill it and from internal crisis that should be expected from an amalgam entity! Yet APC, with all its troubles, presents the only hope and route to Urhobo governorship in Delta.
Although, unfortunately, the APC will present the hardest route, it is the only one. Here we go: The route to the guber ticket for an Urhobo candidate in the APC is sure. The APC is truly an opposition party, it is not pretending to be an opposition. It is standing head to head to fight the PDP for the grand price! It is not Labour Party sent on a mission that the Presidency can ask to stand down any time to the disappointment of the Urhobo nation!
The party, inspite of its current challenges, has long reach! The party in the state will receive massive support to win the ground war! Delta State is well sensitised for the change that is coming which is well represented by APC. The question, however, is whether the Urhobo and UPU truly want this guber price enough to do the needful?
Urhobo governorship will not come on a platter. It will require hard work and a fight. It will require choosing the right platform and the unity of purpose to work through such platform. It will require being practical and putting the collective interest of Urhobo above personal or that of the South-South or any other person! It will require courage, determination and doggedness! It will require the blurring of the party lines and party platforms and elevation of Urhobo land to a one party land!
While fighting against Jonathan will not be the target, Urhobo must be practical enough to go against him if his interest conflicts with Urhobo interest! Urhobo will go no where with a brand of friendly opposition that is docile and ready to submit to the powers that be! It is either we want to fight for it or nothing, sentiments must be put aside. The times for wishful thinking and day-dreaming are over! Can Urhobo sons and daughters do this?
Do they want the governorship this much? This is the crux of the matter! I believe the UPU has started well! Their leadership in this wise is crucial! They must shine their eyes and bring to bear their enormous good standing! May God open our eyes to the day-dreamers, save us from the deceivers and direct us to the serious!
By Cyril Ogodo
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