As the clock tick towards 2023 governorship election in Delta State, with over 10 gubernatorial aspirants jostling for the number one seat, one man is standing out among others in the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the major opposition political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Those who seemed to be serious in the PDP are the immediate past Chief of Staff, Government House, Olorogun David Edevbie, immediate past Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye while Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, remains the most prominent, outstanding and leading aspirant with pedigree.
In the opposition, the likes of the Deputy Senate President and Senator representing Delta Central in the National Assembly (NASS), Ovie Omo-Agege and Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, rumour mill has it that they are also eyeing the seat, though are yet to declare their intentions.
The rest who have shown interest under the PDP and APC, are coming for one political settlement or negotiation for political appointment after stepping down for who their party would zero on.
No doubt, the former minister of education, Olorogun Gbagi, is more favourable and disposed to the party and Deltans compared to the rest, who for one political affiliation or attachment are already been disqualified in the public polls.
Deltans and non Deltans alike who have followed the politics since 1999, says Olorogun Gbagi, is more acceptable to Delta South Senatorial District that has taken its shot and Delta North Senatorial District, which is to complete theirs by 2023, making him (Gbagi), the bride of Delta Central Senatorial District.
As the time comes closer, leaders in the region, irrespective of their choice candidates would come to a round table to forge a way forward on who should be the Delta Central governorship candidate while party leaders in the region and the other two Senatorial Districts would equally meet to do same at the parties level.
Laying foundation to this, Okowa on Friday July 16th 2021, restated that “the emergence of a governorship candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2023 general elections in state, would not be based on ethnicity but on senatorial district”.
The governor however stressed that the consensus that would be arrived at on the senatorial power rotation “will be built among members of the PDP including the two leaders, that is, the governor, Senator Okowa, then former governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, also former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and host of other leaders who have not even had the privilege of governing the state, but are critical stakeholders in the decision making of both the PDP and indeed in the running of the affairs of the state”.
The Okowa-Ibori cold war or factor would have a bad one on Olorogun Edevbie, who is not favourably disposed to Okowa.
The 2015 primary election of the PDP, Olorogun Edevbie, almost stole the show with 299 votes to pick the party’s gubernatorial ticket but after some painstaking efforts, with the show of money and again the support Okowa enjoyed from Ibori and power shift struggle by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Okowa, sailed to victory, pulling a total of 406 votes.
Although, Okowa, has debunked rumour of cold war, when he received the Vice Chairman of APC, Chief George Okafor, who recently decamped to the PDP.
Okowa said: “Their attempt to pitch me against my Predecessors will not work because I am not quarrelling with them”.
Okowa, may not want the Ibori dynasty to continue as he may wish to produce his successor being the leader of the party and sitting governor owing to the fact that Edevbie, is the candidate of Ibori. However, the fractured relationship coupled with the reason Edevbie was sacked recently by Okowa, from the State Executive Council, are some stumbling blocks on the way of Edevbie.
Also, analysts owe the views that Olorogun Edevbie do not have the political sagacity and charisma that goes with politicians who have governorship ambition and that he do not equally have the structure of the party to himself.
On the other hand, the sacked Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, is the candidate of the former minister of information and “father of government”, Prof. Sam Oyowvaire, who is more favourable to Okowa.
However, Chief Augoye, is seen to be too quiet, lacks political charisma and an infant politician who may be a push over for Omo-Agege, who seems to be making adequate preparations to stage a walk back haven tested the political waters sometimes past.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party would not want to lose the state to the opposition, the All Progressives Congress and may want to do everything possible to retain the governorship as losing it to Omo-Agege or any other APC candidate, means suffering, political relegation and a total change in the political calculation and landscape for the state between 2023 to 2027 and beyond.
As it stands, the only political machine and governorship hopeful the pendulum is swinging towards, is the only entrepreneur, philanthropist, industrialist and “independent candidate”, for the Urhobo nation and Delta Central, is Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, who has a mind of his own.
There are insinuations in some quarters by political gladiators and king makers that when given the chance, Gbagi, would be uncontrollable. This has been the unmentioned fear that has eaten up leaders in the region.
A political writer, Ugochukwu Chima, in his submission, wrote: “From all indications and fairness in rendering quality and impactful leadership in Delta State with recourse to the governorship seat come 2023, the Urhobos who are the sole indigenous ethnic nationality in Delta Central, ought to be saddled with this responsibility, haven gone through all districts and starting all over again.
“But then, the big question that will emanate even among the North and South, is “Who is the Best to Lead as Governor in 2023 from the Urhobo extraction (Delta Central)?
“In this era of our nation, when we are about to step into renegotiating our unity as a people, a leader in the position of a Governor, must be one that is firm and capable of defending not only the ethnicity of the Urhobos, but the Ndokwas, Isokos, Izons, Ika, Itsekiri, Oshimili, et al.
“A total detribalised individual that sees everyone as his own. In unity, we stand!
“The Urhobos must present to us a candidate who is intelligent, industrious, focused, youth and women sensitive in development and governance. Intelligence that goes with selflessness, is one adorable key to Industrialization of an entity.
“Various aspirants for the guber race have emerged. Some may still be watching how events may turn out to be, that will prompt them to advance or retreat. It is called Politics!
“But as it stands, as good as the aspirant at the fore may appear to be, there is undoubtedly only one best, with the proven records of integrity and prudence, selfless commitment with determination to succeed in spite of odds.
“The ethnic groups in the other two senatorial districts of North and South, are keenly watching. We have interest too.
“Any candidate that lacks technicality, soiled antecedents at the state and national level, a neophyte, is strongly unacceptable”.
But Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, in an exclusive interview with Cherrylmedia.com, defeated the argument of China, when he said: “This whole dichotomy of Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Urhobo, Delta Igbo, name it; forget it. It will never be a thing in my government because we are all one people.
“One of my closest fathers and Leaders in this world is an Ijaw man, Papa E.K. Clark. Another close pal, though late, was Gen. Aziza. Look at Vice Admiral Preston.E. Omatsola, former Chief of Naval Staff, look at General Alexander Ogomudia (rtd). I cut across all, also look at the father of the Governor, and the Governor himself, I cut across, I am detribalized.
“I am going to do all, “inclusive governance” – this love I have with all local government areas, all Senatorial districts, I will carry it to them later. We need to make it what it costs, and with all of these things in place, it is going to be a win-win situation, peace as we go, less or no crime, zero tolerance.
“Our youths will be employed, they wi have what to do, what to look up to, and have what to put on their table, which is critical for you to have the peace for governance. I want to thank my friends and brothers the Governor that has laid such a foundation that makes the matter to be very easy, as we proceed in life, that is going to be a win-win situation”.
Permit me at this juncture, to call on party delegates especially the Peoples’ Democratic Party not to see the electioneering and campaign periods to think of their pockets and pick a wrong candidate that would be a work over for the opposition or work to develop his family alone to detriment of the entire state but rather a selfless man and a true democrat. Come 2023, Delta State don’t need a JOB SEEKER but an ENTREPRENEUR!
