Delta Guber 2011: • The best our accusers can do is to head for tribunal – Okowa

By: Tonebsky Nesta

If the mammoth crowd that thronged the Oleh township stadium Tuesday June 29 for Delta South campaign flag off for Uduaghan 2011 is anything to go by, then the opposition will have to dig deep to wrestle power from the Ibori/Uduaghan structure that has held Delta State Politics since 1999.

While the opposition are quick to allege that the crowd is rented and mobilised by aspirants who are presently not incumbents, the confidence of organizers of the rally was clearly shown in their various addresses after witnessing an elaborate procession by supporters of the different aspirants mostly from Delta South and Central Districts. The state chairman of Uduaghan 2011 Campaign and incumbent Secretary to Delta State government, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa in a display of braggadocio declared that the best those opposing the Uduaghan return bid in 2011 can do is to go to “the tribunal after January 2011 election”, adding that Governor Uduaghan’s Deputy, Professor Amos Utuama who is a SAN “will handle that”. Dr. Okowa who is heavenly rumoured to succeed Governor Uduaghan come 2015 by the Ibori political family, averred that efforts to “create a distance between the governor and our brother in Abuja has not worked”. According to him, people always tell lies on the pages of newspapers that Uduaghan is not loved by his people and stated that most Deltans are on the governor’s side.

Elder statesman, Chief James Otobo in a brief remark at the rally, disclosed that they have met the Chief Edwin Clark’s group severally on consultation. He quoted a Punch Newspaper publication credited to Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark that he has nothing against Dr. Uduaghan, claiming that the Ijaw national leader categorically stated that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is “eminently qualified to rerun”. While vowing to make good their one man, one vote in 2011, Chief Otobo enjoined all present to go and carry out the Uduaghan campaign in the grassroots.

The arrow head of the Uduaghan 2011 campaign in Delta Central, Chief Tom Amioku in his brief remark admonished the crowd not to be deceived by what they read on the pages of newspaper against Governor Uduaghan and declared that those responsible “will come back to us and queue in the line”.

Chairman of Delta North senatorial district for Uduaghan 2011, Chief Anwuzia in his declaration, stated that if Uduaghan does not come back in 2011, it will be difficult for Delta North to produce Governor in 2015. He averred that any Delta Northerner “who vies for Governor in 2011 will be excommunicated”.

The Chairman, Delta South Senatorial District for Uduaghan 2011, Comrade Ovouzore Macaulay had earlier in an opening addressed, thanked “leaders of Delta Central for the mantle of governorship handed to them” and promised that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will not disappoint. Comrade Macaulay while responding to criticisms that governor Uduaghan did not create industries, stated that, “it is not the duty of government to be in business”, adding that Governor Uduaghan is not just building for today, but tomorrow in his quest at creating the right business environment.

The State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Agbe Utuama who rounded off the addresses, described Uduaghan as “the key to Delta today and tomorrow”. While promising that the best is yet to come for Delta State, Professor Utuama declared that Governor Uduaghan is a success story, developer and a unifier.

Fresh Angle investigations reveal that the Delta Central flag off which held at Isiokolo recorded low turn out, while improvement was noticed at Ogwashi-uku for Delta North before the overwhelming crowd that was mobilized at Oleh three days later. With these pros Uduaghan rallies, campaigns for 2011 polls in Delta State have indeed kicked off in earnest.