In a democratic environment, what the people want is good governance. Once there is good governance, no one cares about who is holding what position or where the person is from.
Following the loss of the Presidency to the All Progressive Congress (APC) by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections, some members of the PDP, believing that it was over for their political party, pitched their tent with the APC. Such scenario played out in different parts of the country.
As such, some members of the PDP in Delta State where not left out in seeking for greener pasture or political relevance in the APC. But, President Mohammadu Buhari did not mince words when he categorically said that he will spread dividends of democracy based on percentage of votes he received. It was, therefore, not a surprise that more than 80 per cent of members of the PDP who moved to the APC did not get patronage either in terms of receiving political appointments or contract from the APC-led Federal Government
In Delta State, the movement of some of the PDP members to APC was celebrated but, the Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa was aware that what the people needed is good government, not political party.
Ordinarily, bearing in mind that the APC is the ruling political party at the federal levels, there would have been jitters as to how the election will play out in Delta State, but, one can confidently say that the resolve of President Buhari to dish out dividends of democracy using the percentage of votes he received as yardstick became a bonus to the PDP in the state.
More than three years of the APC – led government at the federal level, no Deltan can point to a project initiated by the Federal Government in Delta State. Federal infrastructures like roads have been abandoned in the state.
The obvious lack of concern to the provision of infrastructure in the state has given a great boost to the PDP and by implication, Governor Okowa's administration. Governor Okowa, as a grassroots politician capitalised on the ‘neglect’ by the Federal Government to engage in massive delivery of dividends of democracy.
In terms of “stomach infrastructure", a lot of Deltans are holding one political office or the other. One can authoritatively say that there is no ward in Delta State that does not have a politician who is on the payroll of the Delta State Government. Also, there is no local government that the Governor Okowa-led administration has not executed projects. Though, it is not yet uhuru, Deltans are feeling the impact of governance; so, while even an Okada rider can easily count the achievements of Governor Okowa administration in Delta State, all that they do concerning federal government responsibilities is to complain. In some cases, the complaint become so much that Governor Okowa had no option than to intervene, after all, it is Deltans that bears the burden of the failure or inactivity of the federal government in the state.
As such, it is no longer news that contracts are awarded for the construction of federal roads by the Governor Okowa administration. In terms of security, Governor Okowa’s administration has presented security vans to security agencies and in some cases, built office accommodation for them. Even, most of the agencies of the Federal Government operating in the state owe their sustenance to the Delta State Government.
Most of the politicians who left the PDP to the APC, bearing in mind that the popularity of the APC is going down, returned to their original or home party, the PDP. Last month, a rally was held at the Ughelli Township Stadium to receive some of them and most of those who spoke at that rally attributed their coming back to the PDP to hunger, saying, things became worse for them in the political party which has the broom as its symbol.
Last Tuesday, in what seem like having the last batch of the members of the PDP who moved to the APC returning to the PDP, a rally was held at Kwale and former Commissioner for Information in Delta State who represented the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Mercy Almona-Isei returned to the PDP.
Surprisingly, bearing in mind that some of those who returned from the APC to the PDP are still regarded and accorded the leadership respect, they are not referred to as decampees. At the Kwale rally, to prove that APC fold has greatly depleted, running mate to Olorogun Otega Emerhor, the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 general elections, Chief V.O.T. Abanum also, returned to the PDP. One cannot forget to mention the fact that Sir Fidelis Okennmor Tilije, a renowned philanthropist who severally, was the running mate to Chief Great Ogboru is currently serving as the Commissioner for Water Resources in the Governor Okowa-led administration.
Those who spoke at the rally said it would be unappreciative of them not to join the PDP in solidarity with the good works of Governor Okowa for Deltans. Hon. Gabriel Mordi who was a chieftain of the APC in Oshimili South local government area, succinctly said that Governor Okowa was wooing members of the opposition political parties with avalanche of projects. He tore the membership card of the APC at the rally. He had no option because in Oshimili South local government area, the Stephen Keshi Stadium (formerly, Asaba Township Stadium) which used to bubble in the 1970s has finally come back to life after decades of abandonment – courtesy of Governor Okowa's administration; in Oshimili South, flood which crippled socio-economic activities at DLA, Jesus Saves Roads and other parts of Asaba have been tackled through multi-billion naira storm drainage projects, a multi-billion naira Central Secretariat is under construction in the ancient city at the bank of the River Niger. So, while opposition is good to keep the ruling party on its toes, clear soul-searching will make one to say, ‘Governor Okowa, if you could do this in four years, another four years will not be a waste.’
One can recall that Chief Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (17 September 1932 – 9 March 2017) endeared himself to the heart of the people when as the Military Governor (1967–1975) of the Mid-West State, later renamed Bendel State, which later became Delta and Edo States with quality projects executed in the nooks and crannies of the region. Till date, one can easily point at achievements of Chief or General Ogbemudia as some people will like to address him.
So, one can say that Senator Dr Okowa, being aware of the enduring legacies of General Ogbemudia who was respected till he breathed his last and as a smart governor, believes that the only way people will cast their votes in a democratic setting without looking at religion, ethnic group, academic qualifications, political leaning or whatever, is through the delivery of dividends of democracy.
Students of history could recall that Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 election though, was a Moslem, he was voted massively for by Christians and Moslems because, he was not just a philanthropist but, an industrialist who was putting food on the tables of many people. So, one language that the voter's card understands so much, is, performance.
Apparently confident that he has a lot of achievements in his kitty, Governor Okowa at that rally at Kwale, challenged his opponents to a debate.
“We are praying for debate; they will have nothing to talk about, I am in Delta State, I only left when I went to Ibadan to study Medicine, my opponents will have nothing to say, so they will run away from a debate,” Governor Okowa said.
From his statement, it was obvious that he knows his opponents, where they are from and their pedigree and he is very sure that while he has been with the people all these years, sharing in their pains and their joy, his opponents were out of the state contributing to the development of other states’ economies.
The eye-opener was when he described his opponents as people who only visit the state when there is an election and leave the state till another election year.
From what is playing out in the political scene, the electorate is certainly wiser and cannot be hoodwinked by sentiments; they will cast their votes based on conscience and ready to take responsibility for their actions.
I see Nigerian democracy evolving to a situation where political office holders will become more accountable and be conscious of the fact that their actions or inaction may affect their electoral values.
(As published on page 10 of The Pointer Newspaper of Sunday, October 28, 2019.)
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