2015 as defining moment for Delta State

Indeed, they aimed at scoring what seemed like a major goal to win the hearts and minds of the majority of Nigerians when they fixed February 14th (Lovers’ Day) as date for the presidential and other elections of national significance.Although this date has not gone down well with the youthful members of the Nigerian electorate, […]

Indeed, they aimed at scoring what seemed like a major goal to win the hearts and minds of the majority of Nigerians when they fixed February 14th (Lovers’ Day) as date for the presidential and other elections of national significance.
Although this date has not gone down well with the youthful members of the Nigerian electorate, observers of the electoral process believe it is time to work towards actualising gender mainstreaming in the political life of Nigeria. There is no gain saying the fact that the womenfolk have suffered a prolonged period of political marginalisation in Nigeria.
Campaigners of political equality are also deeply concerned about putting pressure on political authorities to erect an enabling environment to guarantee equal access to all Nigerians irrespective of gender and other statuses to political offices. This is because the quality of service and professional excellence is not the birthright of the male gender. Other developed democracies have opened up their political space to accommodate all interest groups.
Aside the topical and thematic issue of gender mainstreaming and equality of access to all political offices, with specific reference to the next general elections, majority of Nigerians are also of the view that there is need to apply what is generally regarded as charter of equity in deciding candidates for various offices in the land. This has become necessary because of the feelings and anger in some states – that the electoral process is often manipulated to ensure that only candidates of particular ethnic stocks run for the office of governor.
In Imo State, for instance, the Owerri and Okigwe senatorial zones are of the contention that Orlu zone has monopolised the office of governorship for over two decades, even as Owerri zone seems determined to ensure that it wrests power from the Orlu political establishment.
In Delta State, the northern senatorial zone, largely made up of Igbo-speaking nationalities, has never held the position of governor. As a result of this, there seems to be unanimity in opinion among major political stakeholders, that the Delta North senatorial zone should be allowed to produce the next state governor.
The first indigenous civilian governor of Delta State, which was created on August 21, 1991, was Mr Felix Ibru. He ruled from January 1992 to November 1993. From May 1999 to May 29, 2007 James Onanefe Ibori, who is from the same zone with Felix Ibru, was elected governor. He handed over to his cousin, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. The incumbent governor is expected to hand over to another person by May 29, next year.
With the above facts, it has become increasingly imperative that Delta North should be allowed to produce their governorship candidates in next year’s election. Already, highly reputable sons and daughters from Delta North senatorial zone are engaged in consultations with the people in the grassroots and leading stakeholders from across the state. These consultations are aimed at creating opportunities for Delta North in leading political parties to produce the best candidate in next year’s election. It is expected that the best hand from the zone would build upon the legacies the current administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan would leave behind. As a consummate party loyalist, Governor Uduaghan is expected to support fairness and justice and allow a candidate from Delta North emerge from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Delta North senatorial zone boasts of a good number of great political players such as Mrs Ngozi Olejeme, Dr Sylvester Monye, Rep Elumelu, among others. However, apostles of the principle of equity and fairness are of the opinion that the only lady among these political heavyweights, who also has a lot of moral
credentials, Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme, should be supported to become the candidate of the party in the coming governorship election in the state.
Dr Ngozi Juliet Olejeme is said to be a woman of many parts and an
acute administrator. By a dint of hard work, Mrs Olejeme is a consummate finance and insurance expert, an entrepreneur and management consultant. She is also a philanthropist, social mobiliser, human rights activist, nationalist and a devout Christian. She rose from a humble background to national prominence during the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha (1993-1998) when she fearlessly joined other progressive forces in Nigeria to raise a strong opposition against the military dictator, taking cognizance of the fact that military incursion into Nigerian politics was an aberration.
An alumnus of the University of Southern California, USA, Mrs Olejeme is an exemplary public officer who uses her skills, wisdom and uncommon brilliance to achieve positive results in whatever assignment given to her.
Members of the civil society in Nigeria are also campaigning that she should be
given the opportunity to serve her state. They argue that a vibrant state like Delta needs a professionally competent creator of employment opportunities, especially considering the fact that majority of graduates and other school leavers from the state are in need of an enabling environment to become employers of labour. She has what it takes to industrialise the state and save it from environmental degradation. She is also capable of restoring its place in agriculture through a sustained revolution. Other concerned Nigerians from the state and beyond, including Abubakar Umar Dankano, also share the same view. The civil society community indeed wishes Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme the best of luck as she prepares for primary election in her party.
Onwubiko, who is the head of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, lives in Abuja.