Delta 2015: The political frenzy

 

In the Pix: Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and political associates

In every election year there is usually anxiety among the populace about who will clinch electoral victory and run the affairs of government for a constitutionally stipulated tenure. The anxiety is usually the product of the uncertainty surrounding the character, temper and general disposition of whoever becomes elected.

Politics and governance are probably the most important institutions ever evolved by man. A nation, in fact an entire race, can be made or marred by good or bad politics. Therefore, people are ever anxious in anticipation of who rules them as election draws near. In Nigeria as in most other Third World countries the anxiety is even more heightened because of the nature of our politics which for too long had discountenanced the people and their aspirations. Politics and governance is always and should be about the people. But this thinking is yet to take deep root in our nation.

The most important preoccupation in town at this time of the year is the jostling for the 2015 general elections. Many political gladiators, their supporters as well as pundits are involved in the fray leading to the elections coming up early in 2015. The jostling is reaching fever pitch and nobody is leaving any stone upturned. Alliances and bridges of understanding are being built, consultations are ongoing, agitations are reaching a crescendo, opponents are casting aspersions, strategists are thinking and scheming and many debating platforms have sprung up on the pages of newspapers and the social media.

Delta State is not left out in the 2015 political frenzy. The State remains one of the most complex and contentious in Nigeria. The complexity is the product of her multi-ethnic character, her rich endowment in oil and gas which translate into unimaginable wealth, her vast landscape, many urban centres and large population.The State’s ethnic plurality gives birth to agitation among the political class regarding what ethnic group should produce the governor at any given time. The ethnic groups also hold one another in distrust. The oil and gas wealth is another factor which ignites the struggle for political power. The vast landscape and many urban centres make the entire State to be hungry for development. The large population is made up of many enlightened citizens comprising a large population of unemployed and under-employed who need to be gainfully engaged to get going with life.

These challenges can only be surmounted by given prime attention to the people’s factor. This is done by thinking of the programmes and ideals that will make the State a better place for the people. It is about a social contract which must serve the interest of our people.

For Delta State, the ideal candidate should understand the peculiarities of the State and evolve a programme of action that will address the need of all. Such a candidate should be able to critically think up development ideas which will accelerate the rapid development of the State.

In addition to the foregoing the candidate must have a multi-ethnic appeal which cuts across all the ethnic groups in the State whether it is Aniocha, Ika, Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri, Ndokwa, Oshimili or Urhobo.

This is so because either during the primary or in the general elections, politicians and voters from all the ethnic groups will come together to vote for a candidate to fly the party’s flag and eventually emerge as Governor. This cannot be without rancor, but that can be reduced with a candidate who is trusted by all the ethnic groups. If it is not possible to get such that is trusted by all the ethnic groups then there must be one candidate who approximates the yearnings and aspirations of all the people of Delta State.