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| Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta Assembly Speaker. |
By ITEVEH
Can a confidence vote save
Sheriff Oborevwori from impeachment as Speaker of Delta State Seventh Assembly?
A
mysterious wind is upon Oborevwori’s sail. The happiest moments of a man
are his most vulnerable. He should know. 'They never let you be famous and
happy.'
A vote of confidence was passed
on the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the leadership of the Seventh
Assembly of Delta State, by its members during plenary yesterday, Tuesday,
March 16th, 2020.
Was it a coincidence that the member
representing Ika North East, the governor’s constituency, Emeka Elekeokwuri,
moved the motion? Was it also happenstance, that out of the 10 members who
joined the debate, seven were new members of the House? Neophytes?
Should we wave it off too that,
suddenly, on such an auspicious day, the Majority Leader, Tim Owhefere, the
would be Speaker, Eric Oharisi, Festus Okoh and a retinue of old timers were
absent? Or should we rather jettison the glaring fact that, former Deputy
Speaker, Friday Osanebi, and Rueben Izeze who were present, never raised their
hands to join the confidence vote debate?
The Ides of March is here! Two
dynamics are against Oborevwori.
The lawmakers who sang his
praise, “Dem a su-su pon him” when he is not looking.
While one laments the Speaker’s inability to hustle money from the governor for
their aggrandizement, another frowns that the Speaker, has become inflicted by
the old virus that accompanies power. Arrogance!
Don’t accept as true all they
said yesterday. They are like gods who kill a man at his happiest hour; lurking
vultures. There is no love there. Just interest!
March is here. The second factor
militating against the survival of Oborevwori is domestic. The Professor
Oyovwaire factor. How?
Intrigues ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial
are gradually unfolding. As much as the Delta Central ‘Urhobo Agenda’ is
overriding, Urhobos cannot afford to house a divide among their political
ranks. That is where the problem lies.
The Ughelli political water is
getting murkier. Eyeing the coveted governorship seat are David Edevbie, Peter
Mrakpor, Kenneth Gbagi and Ovie Omo-Agege. None of these men are political
push-overs. They have amassed, clout and financial fortresses. But that is the
problem.
There are schools of thought in
the Urhobo political circle with faith that if the governorship seat must
return to the Delta Central Senatorial District, Okpe kingdom (Sapele and Okpe
Local Areas) should be the only consideration. Reason being that, Olorogun
Felix Ibru, the first civilian Governor of Delta State represented Ughelli
interest, while Chief James Ibori represented the Ethiope interest. Only Okpe,
Uvwie (where Efe Ofoburuku is prepared to run for governor, 2023) and Udu are
yet to feel the aura of that seat. They are protesting.
Okpe is not akimbo on their
dreams. They have two illustrious sons to further their interest. The number three
man in the Delta State’s political hierarchy, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff
Oborewvori and the Commissioner for Works, Hon. James Augoye are Okpe products.
There are strong indications that they will throw their caps into the 2023
ring.
Nevertheless, while Sheriff
Oborevwori is a protégé of the James Ibori dynasty, James Augoye belongs to
Prof. Oyovwaire’s. Two heavy weight Godfathers with no love lost.
The bitter political history of
the relationship between Ibori and Oyovwaire goes way back to 1999, with the
later believing he was the right candidate for Governorship of Delta State as
it were. Oyovwaire boasted at one time that he named ‘Delta State’ after its
creation by former military head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
Oyovwaire felt betrayed. He felt
his power was usurped by a 38 years old, free spirited young man, James Ibori.
He would not have it. He has not forgiven history. Hence, years after he is
named father of government, and at a time when Ibori was still away,
incarcerated, observers believe that he began his reign of terror, to pounce on
the residue of Ibori’s political family.
Do you think the fall of Monday
Igbuya was a mistake? It is believed that many other direct descendants of
Ibori’s political dynasty have either been relegated or appointed and
frustrated, allegedly by the Okowa-led government. Your guess is better than
mine on who is responsible. Igbuya was only among the first casualties. It was
sensed that Igbuya would run for governor in 2023. He was fast amassing wealth
and power. Oyovwaire would have none of that. If it must be Okpe, then it must
be his decision to make. He has his eyes set on James Augoye. Anything short of
that must be removed, plucked off the face of the political space and thrown
into oblivion.
Two things Governor Ifeanyi
Okowa has working for him are his silence and brute determination to drive home
his interest. He believes in loyalty especially when it is undivided. Igbuya’s
sin was blatant loyalty to Ibori. You cannot serve two masters. Or better still
be directly loyal to your master’s master. It’s dangerous.
Oborevwori’s political dilemma
may be subtly predicated on this fact. It is believed that he is both loyal to
Ibori and Okowa. Oyovwaire’s argument is simple. James is only loyal to Okowa.
He will make a better and loyal governor. Anything short of that, they would
lose out in the political space.
The battle rages on… like Victor
Ochei, like Monday Igbuya. Will Oborevwori summon the courage to bow out
voluntarily when the ovation is loudest and retain his relevance? Or rather,
watch and pray?
The Ides of March is here again.
Can a confidence vote save Oborevwori?
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