DELTA 2015: THAT TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OF SENATOR IFEANYI OKOWA

It had the panoply of being the mother of all rallies. From support groups to the resplendent uniforms, the various posters, the billboards, the flakes and flags carrying imposing photographs of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and other candidates, the podium, the cacophony of songs and drumbeats, the size of the crowd all united to tell the story of a rally without a known parallel.

It was the flag-off of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s campaign for the governorship of Delta State, which election is scheduled to hold on February 28. From the day that event held that beautiful Tuesday 13, 2015, 46 days then to the eagerly awaited election, the people judging from the size of the crowd looked ready and willing to cast their votes for Senator Okowa, the man whose pedigree assures them of consolidation and continuity of the good things.

The event enjoyed sufficient publicity. Television and radio jingles and news materials intimating the public of the epochal declaration blared from electronic equipment. Oghara Township Stadium lost its original visage to posters of different shapes and sizes all carrying pictures of Senator Okowa, some with his running mate, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, PDP and fascinating slogans intended to give his candidacy mileage.

The rally which was billed for about 10am had most available spaces taken up as early as 8 o’clock. While groups with band entertained themselves with the people dancing with furious vitality, flags and flakes fluttered in the sky in a rhythmical fashion that acquiesced with the body gyrations of those holding them. It was a cathedral of colours that aped the mood of the occasion.

As the convoy of the PDP candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, rolled in at about 12:45pm, the crowd exploded in joy and excitement. The Master of Ceremony, elated by the overwhelming crowd stated that Delta is a PDP State recalling that from 1999, the State has always cast its lots with the party citing the various percentages of votes it has given to PDP from 1999 to 2011.

In what gave the caveat of an Abuja mix, Dipreye Alemiyesegha, representing the Presidential campaign team was on hand to give a goodwill message on behalf of the observer group he led.

The Chairman of the PDP in the State, who presented flags to all the candidates of the party, said there was no alternative to PDP. He enjoined all party faithful to work towards ensuring victory for the party at the elections pledging that the big umbrella would accommodate all interests.

The governorship flag-bearer who had earlier received his flag at the flag-off of the PDP presidential rally in Lagos also brandished it for the people to see describing it as a flag of Unity. The governorship flag-bearer said “We are ready for consolidation and human focus development” noting that the flag represents unity, progress and development.

He affirmed his intention to continue to make God the centre-piece of the affairs of the State, stating that Delta would not take over by labour but by favour. He identified economic modules that would be adopted for rapid prosperity. The governorship candidate said that the State would invest in agriculture as part of rapid growth.  He said that his government would also create wealth through sports and entertainment. The accomplished politician said that the business of government is to create an investment climate hinting that his government would make finance available.

Even though the speeches at the event were made to toe the line of brevity to ensure the retention of excitement, the musical interlude was a refreshing perspective that engendered a renewal of the sense of participation of the supporters and party faithful.

Those who shared their sentiments expressed appreciation to Delta State people for seeing the truth and following the light. They said Senator Okowa represents hope and that identifying with him is an affirmation of the people’s faith in the State.

Senator Okowa’s emergence is not by the earthly support base, which he has, but by God’s decree, all other things are just extra to complement the grace that has issued in the divine mandate. Now is the time to seize an entitlement to the mandate by being part of it.