By Williams Eghebi
I read with feverish apprehension few days ago a news report
credited to Chief O’tega Emerhor, the All Progressive Congress Governorship
Candidate for Delta State published in some national newspapers. In the story,
the governorship candidate was quoted to have queried President Mohammadu
Buhari for allegedly nominating Prof Pat Utomi for a ministerial appointment. He
reportedly said the presence of Mr. Godwin Emefiele and Dr. Ibe Kachuku both
from Delta North(Anioma) in sensitive positions, forecloses appointment of any
more person of Anioma extraction by the President..
Hear him: ” President
Buhari only recently appointed Dr. Ibe Kachuku, a Deltan, from Delta North, as
Group Managing Director of NNPC. He is aware that the current State Governor,
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and the current governor of CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, are
Deltans also from Delta North.
“I believe being aware
of this situation, the President will strive to balance further appointments
from Delta State by looking towards the other zones, that is, Delta Central and
South.”
I have tried to be
circumspect on the mission of Chief Ortega Emerhor to become the governor of
Delta State for obvious reasons. For one, he is eminently qualified but for
another, a couple of his aides are my friends. Until now, the only reason I
wished he does not become a governor is because equity rightly placed successor
to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan on the table of Delta North. After all, those who seek
equity, come clean. However, his intention to poke Delta North must elicit
response of equal ferocity. Any attempt to duck, consigns us to eternal slavery
and perennial wood hewers.
The leadership of APC
must urgently have a crisis meeting with Chief Emerhor because his outburst, no
doubt, will delete some hard-earned points from the party. The comments of the candidate is capable of inciting other
ethnic groups against Delta North. The governorship candidate from the very
moment he emerged as the torch bearer, is the property of the party. His
opinion is that of the party. Put succinctly, he has lost the privilege of
personal and private position on any national issue. That he allegedly
questions the intention of the President and leader of his party is an aberration.
Recently, President
Mohammadu Buhari justified the reason to give jobs to persons perceived to be
of northern extraction with strong ties. The president is aware that he takes
the glory or otherwise of this administration. Unfortunately, Chief Emerhor is
travelling on another route preferring to act like an ethnic chauvinist.
The criticism from
Chief Emerhor of the president has colossal damage on both the APC and Delta
State. For the APC, Chief Emerhor tells Nigerians that President Buhari has
poor judgement and by extension that his party is not cut out to deliver on
campaign promises. To Deltans, he unknowingly posited that the state is unduly
favoured. This untoward action will sadly make him a bad sell in future
elections if he offers himself again.
If I must use the
local parlance, “O’tega fall my hand, big time.” Let’s start this way! Mr.
Godwin Emefiele was made the Central Bank boss June last year not because he is
from Agbor but more due to his professional pedigree and austere lifestyle. If
it were possible for Agbor people to make a choice between his position and extra
slot for state commissioner, a greater chunk of the people would tick the
later. The extra commissioner will impact more on the peculiar needs of our
people directly. It is not because we love him less; we do not want him to drop
to a local champion when he has to provide solutions to the fiscal challenges
of the entire nation in the midst of unpredictable economic indices. After all,
Agbor people are proven large-hearted and lovers of strangers!
Dr. Kachuku though
from Delta North was not nominated by any of his kinsmen. Unconfirmed sources
hinted his job was influenced by global collaboration. Besides, Dr. Kachuku has
brought goodwill to the state through his cleansing of the corporation few
weeks after ascension to the throne. Today, Nigerians are benefitting from his
ingenuity to stabilise fuel distribution at approved rates.
At several fora, Chief
Emerhor and his aides have taken the social media hostage by claiming that
Senator Okowa is a “caretaker governor”. Against this backdrop therefore, it is
a great mockery to insinuate that Delta North is saturated with federal
appointments knowing that he would become the authentic ” governor” soon. If there is any gain
achievable from the recent open hatred for Delta North, It is a clarion call
for Anioma people to close ranks without further procrastination. We have been
told with great tepid that the oil produced in Delta North is only good for the
kitchen.
This was at the heat
of DESOPADEC bill debate. Some people have said we are tenants in the state but
fortunately, respected stakeholders and politicians from the other zones have
always distanced themselves from these rabble-rousers.
The activities of
Senator Okowa have portrayed him as one large hearted enough to run the state.
He should be supported by all. This is not because he is the only one best
schooled for the plum office but as a result of his stubborn resolve to be a
governor of the entire Delta State where dispensation of dividends of democracy
is not a factor of ethnic, religious or other mundane considerations.
The governor has
approved and indeed funded the entire makeover of three technical colleges one
in each senatorial district. Over 6,000 direct jobs have been created for the
youths across the state. What Deltans want from the APC candidate is clear
assurances on what he can do better than the sitting governor. His subtle
recommendation for the sack of Anioma people in choice positions is the least
approach to warm into the sensitivity of Deltans. We may have differences but
not to the extent of recommending P45 (last pay certificate) for Godwin
Emefiele and Ibe Kachuku. I honestly think Chief Ortega Emerhor has a lot to
offer Delta State without necessarily becoming a governor.
The emergence of Prof
Utomi as minister ought to be a source of relief to Delta APC and indeed Chief
Emerhor. In ideal situation, it is Senator Okowa who should be worried that the
ruling party is enticing his safe haven with juicy positions. Any Deltan,
irrespective of party leaning, who frowns at such grace, has no right to be in
our midst. We must remain loyal to the unwritten covenant of equity, power
sharing and good governance. We have more to benefit if we discontinue
electoral litigation. And I am sure it is achievable. After all, 2019 is not
too far away. In the interim, we expect a quick retraction from the politician.
Eghebi, a Media
consultant and Public Affairs analyst, resides in Delta State
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