Delta State PDP Stakeholders Should Abstain From Being Economical With the Truth and Making of Contradictory Arguments. Let’s Focus on the Big Picture of Peace and Unity of the Sate*.
It is not truthful to say; the 2006 and 2014 PDP governorship primaries of Delta State was contested by aspirants from Delta Central alone against Dr Uduaghan of Delta South and Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa of Delta North respectively. Bradus Angozie from Burutu LGA in Delta South contested, Godswill Obielum from Ndokwa East LGA, Esther Uduehi from Ndokwa, Peter Okocha from Oshimili and Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa from Ika North East LGA in Delta North contested. So many aspirants from Delta Central like Pius Ewherido, Ejaife Odebala, Kenneth Gbagi, Ovie Omo Agege, Emmanuel Agwariavwodo, among others also contested.
There was nothing like Ibori imposing Uduaghan on the party. Ibori supported Uduaghan no doubt but he was able to mobilized majority of the stakeholders to look the direction of Delta South and Uduaghan.
There was primaries at Ogwashi-Uku on 10th December, 2006. Uduaghan and Okowa came 1st and 2nd respectively, and there was supposed to be a run off for two of them because Uduaghan who came first did not score up to 51% of the total votes to be declared the winner as required by the party Guidelines for that year. Okowa was prevailed upon to step down and allow Uduaghan of Delta South to be the candidate. Similarly, in the 2014 guber primaries at Asaba , majority of the stakeholders pushed for Delta North to produce the governor. Aspirants from Delta Central and Delta South contested against aspirants from Delta North.
Kenneth Gbagi from Ughelli South LGA, Ovie Omo Agege from Ughelli North LGA, Amos Otuamah and David Edevbie from Ughelli North contested. Godsday Orubebe from Burutu LGA in Delta South also contested. Dr Okowa from Delta North won because majority of the stakeholders also looked at the direction of Delta North to produce the candidate.
The in thing is that whether there was official or no official, written or no written agreement on zoning/rotation the party had through State chairman always ‘voiced’ a zoning direction which prevailed. Recall the days of Emmanuel Ogidi, Peter Nwaoboshi. Discordant voices to the direction had always been there but the voice of the party carried the day and it will not be different with the golden voice of Kingsley Esiso .
What majority of stakeholders are now saying, praying for and diligently working on is that zoning and rotation be retained or sustained, irrespective of whether it started by deliberate agreement or by default or accidental or divine. It is good for the peace and unity of the state , and as well, equitable, fair and just. Therefore, the 2023 governorship seat should go to Delta Central!
EDOJA RUFUS AKPODIETE Wrote from Asaba
