The chances of Delta North Senatorial District to produce the next governor of Delta State appear to be dimming, according to Saturday Vanguard’’s checks. And this is based on two emerging factors—the bickering among the politicians and leaders of Delta North and realignment of forces in Delta Central whose leaders have resolved to rally support for one candidate. Delta North comprising Ndokwa, Oshimili, Enuani and Ika is the only zone that has never produced governor of the state since Delta State was created in 1991. The Urhobo make up the Delta Central. They have the population advantage in Delta politics. Former Governor James Ibori hails from Delta Central. The zone also produced Olorogun Felix Ibru, the first civilian governor of the state. The Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri make up the Delta South. Current Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan is from Delta South. With the zoning understanding of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leading party in the state, the sympathy for the North to produce the next governor of the state in 2015 gained grounds. But the bickering among Delta North politicians, it was gathered, has encouraged other zones to go all out for the office of the governor, knowing that the disunity among northern politicians could throw the race open, the zoning understanding notwithstanding. The force that the Urhobo could muster during the primaries became manifest in their action during the burial of late General Patrick Aziza last week. Their leaders, Saturday Vanguard gathered, approached Governor Uduaghan and tabled before him their resolution in an earlier meeting. Said a source: “Urhobo leaders challenged the governor to endorse the candidature of any person from Urhobo and leave the rest for them. They assured him that such a person would win the primaries and eventually emerge governor since they will rally support for him. The governor was asked to choose any person and that his choice would be massively supported by all Urhobo.” The governor, was said to have been moved by their commitment and unity but could not immediately address their request as he had said before then that “everybody should go and canvass for votes.” Delta North lacks the unity and leadership qualities of the Urhobo and that may likely cost them the governorship ticket. Their seeming disunity and the moves by Delta Central have reawakened the Delta South, which before now had expressed sympathy for Delta North to produce the governor. Appraising the implications of lack of unity in Delta North, the South is said to be having a rethink about Delta North. “They now feel that they could also support their own to have a shot at the Government House especially with the emergence of James Manager as an aspirant.” And so while there appear to be cracks on Delta North, the Urhobo are gathering momentum. Analysts feel that if Delta South stood behind their candidate and Delta Central do the same, the North may lose out since the Urhobo, with 34 per cent of Delta population may have the numerical advantage. The North has 32 per cent while the South controls 32 per cent of the population. But in delegates election, the support of the government is usually crucial in swaying the votes. Delta North appears not to appreciate this as Uduaghan was said to have favoured power shift to the North before the latest moves by the Urhobo and the apparent disunity among the Delta North. The race in Delta appears very open going by the latest developments
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 06:12:15 +0000
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