By Possible Ogheneseruo, Asaba
Every leader in all sphere of human endeavours whether in business, religion or politics always want to keep his or her legacy alive at any point in time. Leaders always want to handover the batten of leadership to someone they can trust one hundred percent in all ramifications. Hence, it is usually said in our local parlance “that no one handover power to a perceived enemy”. This is why most leaders engage in rigorous search and consultations on who should succeed them.
Politically, this is the usual practice aswell. This is why some Governors usually say at the beginning of their tenure that “I do not know the person who will succeed me but I know those who will not succeed me”.
In politics everybody has the right to vie for any position preferably he or she possesses the will power, qualifications and money to embark on it. Though, the constitution bestowed the right to contest for any position but some so called politicians feel that because they have been in house of assembly or served as commissioner or senator can contest for Governor. Some of them do not have the weight or weigh themselves within the whim and caprecies of their wealth, influence, character and popularity before embarking on political contests. The power to contest for any position is free as annuciated by the constitution but the power to win an election is not free.
The race for who to succeed Governor Ifeanye Arthur Okowa has started in earnest. Politicians from the anionted Delta Central Senatorial District have started jostling and hustling for the number one seat. The politicians from People Democratic Party eyeing the number seat in Delta Central are are Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, David Edevwie, Sheriff Oborevwori, Emmanuel Agwareavwodo, Ejaife Odebalo to mention but a few. All these politicians have their individual strength.
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, a former Minister of State for Education is a world acclaimed business mogul with businesses spread in some major countries of the world. As a former Minister of Education, he established different universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and a good numbers of secondary schools. All these tertiary institutions and secondary schools stand the test of time are thriving well today. This act singles him out as one of the best Ministers of Education that Nigeria has ever had. He has remains the highest employer of labour in the State.
Apart from this feat, Olorogun Gbagi is one of the three persons in Delta State that found PDP and since then he remains a fervent and consistent party member. Despite the fact that he has severally been presented with olive branch and juicy positions in the ruling All Progressive Party (APC), he declined because of his love for his party, the PDP
David Edevwie is a renowned economist who served for the first time as a Commissioner for Finance under the 1999 civilian administration. He was brought into 1999 administration not because he was a Party member or contributed to the success of PDP in 1999 election but was recommended by his elder brother who felt he could not serve as a Commissioner considering his pe-degree and accomplishment. Be that as it may, he had no option than to recommend his younger brother who was idle and roaming about in UK for his Commissionership slot appointment.
Sherif Oborevwori is currently serving his third tenure in the Delta State House of Assembly. He feels as a speaker, he has the power to massage his ego to clinch the number one seat come 2023.
Barr. Ejaife Odebalo has been riding on the wing of his father who was an acclaimed successful lawyer in Delta State. He served two tenures in Delta State House of Assembly.
Emmanuel Awghareavodo was a senator of Federal Republic of Nigerian. He became a senator as a result of the cold hand of death that snatched away vibrant senator Pius Ewherido. Since then he has been in PDP party looking for a mean of survival.
Among all these intending Governorship aspirants only one man, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has been a business man spanning over three decades. He depends on his business money to prosecute the election and has challenged Deltans that paraventures he becomes the Governor, within his first one hundred days in office, he would establish at least one industry each in every Local Government Area of the State. In his words”, I have mapped out strategies on out how I will develop the state with my team economically, educationally, socially and otherwise. I will revive our morribond industries such as African Timbre & Ply Wood (AT&P), AsabaTextile Mill, Delta Glass, Ughelli. I want to remove all our youths from the streets and bring those who have travelled to other states in search of greener pastures back by ensuring that they are provided gainful employment in the state”.
Apart from that, he is man that the source of wealth is more than genuine, hence ICPC and EFCC give him quite a distance. He is bold, eloquent, pragmatic and articulate and as such people refer to him as a man who sees white as white and black as black no matter whose ox is gord. This his rare qualities endear him to all and sundary.
Apart from the fact that all other aspirants are former government officials who are being chased day and night by EFCC and ICPC, most of them are relying completely on the wealth they aquired from government to prosecute their elections. One of their sole objectives for wanting to become the Governor is to embezzle the state treasury dry, hence, most be resisted by Deltans at all cost. Governor Okowa has brought Delta and Deltans from Egypt, therefore, anyone intending or hoping to take us back to Egypt must be shunned and disregarded.
The level Okowa has raised the standard of the state to in terms of infrastructures is second to none. Therefore, he cannot afford to handover to a political glutton, political neophyte or political embezler. Governor Okowa as grassroot politician who is usually refered to as a political mathematician knows the capability of all the aspirants.
The incumbent Governor has also served as politician to the extent that he will not like the power block of former Governors to dictate to him on who should take over from him. Okowa is also warming up to become a political leader not only in Delta North but the entire Delta State too. Based on that, he will not allow himself to be tossed ups and downs by the the political block. He is engaging on the mathematical calculation on who he will handover the batten to come 2023. Wherever Okowa goes or whoever he choses to support, there will all his numerous political families, descendants, friends, associates and boys will go as well.
In all, Governor Okowa as a seating Governor has the yam and the knife. As a man with a very high political acumen, pe-degree and credentials, he is watching carefully before he makes his pronouncement in the next few months. Though, Okowa is not infallible but he is one politician that does not make common and uncommon mistakes. He calculates well before he takes steps. The Governor being a man with a very high political will-power will not like to make the mistake of his predecessor, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan made.
Conclusively, Delta as a state will continue to ascend to higher hieght if Governor Okowa damns all odds and hand over power to a man like Olorogun by Kenneth Gbagi who has the technical know-how to continue from where he stopped in the development and growth of the state.
