By Jude Bruno Amamosa
Before Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa assumed the governorship, Delta North had remained, for successive political eras, a third-class senatorial district. Its voice was subdued and its aspirations consistently downplayed, even though it contributed significantly as a major determining factor in Delta politics.
The unwritten principle of power rotation, an equitable guarantee of fair leadership and power-sharing, came close to being subverted by calculated tactics in the tense period leading up to the 2014 governorship primary.
It was Dr. Okowa’s resolute determination, reinforced by courageous Anioma politicians and stakeholders, that safeguarded the principle, protected the political future of Anioma, and prevented the district from persisting in subjugation.
Those within Anioma who collaborated in efforts to deny the senatorial district a governor later realised, though without genuine contrition, that the struggle for an Anioma-born governor was never predicated on self-interest.
Its true objective was to address structural inequity and secure lasting freedom for the entire district. In pursuit of personal aggrandisement, they actively opposed their own people.
Yet the legitimacy that accrued to Dr. Okowa’s emergence proved unassailable. A candidate who overcame both external opposition and internal saboteurs across local governments and districts earned admiration that transcended Delta North.
Victor Ochei, now seeking a Senate seat, was invited to a critical meeting of Anioma political elites and stakeholders. The gathering was convened to forge a unified front, identify a more qualified aspirant, and build a stronger force around that candidate ahead of the 2014 governorship primary.
The leaders sought his cooperation. Rather than embracing dialogue and inclusion, he reportedly turned it down, asserting that they had finally recognised his importance and that he would win regardless of their support, before walking away. Such conduct does not embody the humility, receptiveness, or trust-building expected of a servant leader.
In contrast, when a similar gesture was extended to Dr. Okowa, he promptly attended and used the opportunity to emphasise unity and the need to put Anioma first.
While Dr. Okowa demonstrated a willingness to engage with the stakeholders and place the collective interest above personal ambition, Ochei took a different path. At that gathering, the leaders and stakeholders adopted Dr. Okowa as the most qualified among the aspirants.
By placing his personal ambition above their collective position, Ochei, in effect, chose to perpetuate the political disadvantage from which the district had struggled for years to emerge, rather than support another Anioma candidate to carry the ticket.
Soon after winning the primary, Dr. Okowa, true to his character of humility and fraternal regard, reached out almost immediately to Ochei. He extended a hand of fellowship, showing unequivocally that he regarded Anioma unity as more important than rivalry.
Far from allowing victory to create distance or division, he chose to reach across political lines and foster the bonds of brotherhood within the district. That act underscored his consistent commitment to Anioma’s general welfare, a quality conspicuously absent from the record of those who held office but seldom advanced the district’s cause.
For Dr. Okowa, victory was never a licence for excessive celebration or division, but an opportunity to consolidate relationships, promote peace, and uphold the interests of the people. His willingness to reach out to a political opponent at the very moment of triumph remains a striking expression of humility, maturity, and unifying leadership at a critical point in Anioma’s history.
Delta North’s political relevance and the respect it commands today are, in substantial measure, the result of the arduous struggle waged by Dr. Okowa and other notable guardians of the district’s future to move Anioma beyond its former disadvantaged position.
Without that struggle, the district might still occupy the outermost margins of state power, despite having contributed significantly to the advancement of other districts.
For the rotational principle to remain viable, and for Anioma to negotiate effectively at both state and federal levels, Dr. Okowa’s experience, humility, and leadership remain essential. Contenders from other parties lack the proven capacity to build bridges across Delta’s three senatorial districts and consolidate meaningful influence in national politics.
If Dr. Okowa were removed from the political arena, Anioma would once again risk becoming open territory for outsiders to advance their ambitions at the expense of its people. History has already borne witness to such precedents.
Dr. Okowa is the skilled negotiator and bridge-builder this generation has been granted. Outside his stewardship, the district possesses no comparable figure able to chart a secure course through the intricate demands of Nigerian power politics. That is precisely why every Anioma citizen must give him full and absolute support to move the senatorial district forward.
Let’s move forward together in unity.
