Delta Central Senate: The Choice Before PDP Delegates

By Ben Akponome,

Ahead of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Assembly primary to elect its flag bearing across Delta State on May 23rd, 2023 and as different aspirants jostle to grab the party tickets, with endorsements, anointing and counter endorsements by political leaders, stakeholders and gladiators; what thing is certain, however, is that the choice of whoever will fly the PDP flag, rest squarely on the shoulders of delegates. Nevertheless, whatever happens on May 23rd, PDP takes the Rise or Fall, and a delegate who had the opportunity to do what is right but failed to do so will be judged by posterity.  

While the race on who takes the party’s flag in Delta North Senatorial District can be predictable, it’s certain that the Prince of Anioma, former Member of House of Representatives, Prince Ned Nwako will carry the day over his rival Surveyor Paul Oseji. That of Delta South is a race between unequal competitors. While many political pundits think that it’s a two-horse race between the immediate past Chairman of the Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, and the leader of the influential Delta Political Vanguard, DPV, Hon Michael Diden, aka Ejele, a known political warhorse who came second in the party’s senatorial primary in the 2019 election is nocking horns with a former House of Reps member, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju, though both are Itsekiris with a different class of supporters, things are looking up for Ejele.

Meanwhile, the battle that will make or mar PDP in 2023 elections is the PDP senatorial primary in Delta Central, considering the fact that Delta Central Senatorial District has remained the hot base of the opposition since 2011, no thanks to the choices made by PDP leaders. What makes this a battle royal, however, is not just about the dramatist personnel in this battle, Chief Ighoyota Amori and Olorogun Hon. Barr. John Obukohwo Nani, who are known political combatants from Ibori political dynasty. Whatever happens on May 23rd, Ibori wins or loses, depending on how he swings the pendulum. What cannot be fathomed is whether the Delta PDP National leader will allow the contest of two of his trusted army generals to break the optical fibre that binds his political family together, this is the burden nature has placed on Chief James Ibori, if plays the role of impartial “father,” good for the family, but if he chooses one over other, the burden is for him to bear.

But most importantly, if Chief Ibori’s as the Grand Commander fails as a result of Hubris to understand the signs of the time, that there is presently a shift in political followership in Delta central towards the younger aspirants, and continue to his old pattern due to his human nature. Will the PDP delegates willingly allow the party to grope in an empty space and continue to allow the opposition dominates Delta Central politics and confine them, and their ageing leaders to political worthlessness on account of a moment of indiscretion? Here is the burden before Delta Central PDP delegates. God has the power to decide what becomes of anyone. Nevertheless, God in his Almightiness doesn’t lord his decision over us, He gave us the power of free will, CHOICE, on even who to serve, this free will distinguishes us from animals, and as freeborn. Will PDP delegates man up and not allow their choice to be coloured by emotions, but a well thought out action that they can look back and thump their chest that they voted according to the best interest of Delta Central and PDP?

PDP delegates should know that Change from the top to down happens at the will and whim of those below and that great things happen nationally when the topmost leadership is motivated and supported by the lead, and it takes the electorate to make a party successful in an election.

The choice before PDP Delta Central delegates is to choose a candidate that is amiable to the youths and women who form a huge percentage of the voting blocks, a man who is a bridge between the old socks and the young mobile. A man who works and lives with the electorates across Delta Central, not just a big name.

The choice before PDP Delta Central delegates is to choose a candidate that has the stamina to pull through the electioneering process without gasping for breath. A man that can stand the rigours of the party primary to the main election and the battle to retain the mandate in court. It is a choice of a man who will not abandon the mandate and go on pleasure hunting and allow political hawks to take hold of what the Urhobo nation will freely give to PDP.   

The choice before PDP Delta Central delegates is to choose a candidate that is saleable to a broad spectrum of the Urhobo nation, not a man with so many baggies and whose loyalty and patriotism to the Urhobo nation has been severally called to question.

You don’t need a prophet to know that Chief Barr John Nani does fit the bill. He has an amazing connection amongst young PDP leaders and with an unbroken bond with PDP elders, he relates with youths across all strata of Delta State. He has all his investments in Urhobo land where he has employed many youths and women, thereby taking them off the street and crime.

Nani as a lawyer of many years standing is not new to legislative business, he was elected into the Delta State House of Assembly in 2011 where he gained the needed experience and sharpened his legislative skills. And as a Commissioner for Environment in Delta State, Chief Nani left indelible marks in the Ministry of Environment and Delta State at large, particularly his efforts in opening up hitherto blocked water channels and creating fresh ones, thereby mitigating the perennial flooding crisis that created yearly displaced person camps in Delta.   

Will Nani meet all Urhobos’ expectations, certainly not, no human can! But will he make PDP and Urhobo proud if elected to the Senate, it’s a yes! That is why he is nicknamed “AghwemutUrhobo,” because of his capacity to deliver the dividend of Democracy to his people.

According to Ralph Nader, an American political activist and a former Green Party Presidential candidate, “the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.

And to also borrow from the advice of Mr Shedrack Onitsha on his Facebook page to our national leader, Chief James Ibori to go play national politics and advance the course of Delta State on the National stage, because: “Lions cannot afford to hunt mice because they literally will starve to death, even if they catch them. Lions and all large carnivores have to hunt game large enough to justify the investment, so they have to hunt antelope and zebra. Why is this important? Because most senior executives are really big on chipmunks.”– Newt Gingrich

“Chief James Ibori is a Lion, a National Leader. He should focus on playing National Politics and leave the House of Reps and Senate for his followers to decide here in Delta,” If Barr John Nani wins, Na Ibori Win.

Akponome, a public analyst, writes from Udu.