As the race for the Delta North
Senatorial Seat gathers momentum, interested candidates sponsored by their
various political parties have thrown their hats into the ring contesting for
the seat. Some of the candidates have been touring the local government areas
of the zone selling their programmes to the electorate while others appear to
hope on some ‘magic’ to catapult them to the seat. On the other hand, certain
candidates seem to be relying on the strength of their parties than the
electorate to make it to the senate.
An analysis of the political
situation of the zone reveal that it won’t be business as usual as the
electorate long for a candidate with traceable achievements and records of
service. The February 14 senatorial poll is a day of reckoning for candidates
who at one time or the other failed to use their exalted positions to advance
the cause of the people of the zone. Delta North could not afford to make
mistake in the election of its representative at the senate. This is the time
to check the score cards of all the candidates.
A peep into the candidates vying for
the seat indicates that the Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP), Victor Ochei (ACCORD PARTY)
and Kelvin Njideaka (APC) are the front runners. Nwaoboshi who is seeking his
election for the first time appears to have lost a lot of ground due to under
performance in his almost 16 years at the government as 8yrs state PDP Chairman
and two times commissioner. The poor state of basic infrastructure in the zone
indicates how poorly Nwaoboshi has been detached from the people. For Kelvin
Njideaka, he has lost touch with the people.
Of all the candidates battling for
the seat, Rt Hon.(Engr)Victor Onyekachi Ochei, has over the years demonstrated
that life is all about service to the people. He has always been identified
with philanthropic activities spanning the local government areas of the zone.
The Onicha Olona born legislator trains over 100 students annually in his skill
acquisition, secondary and tertiary institutions scholarship programme in
Nigeria and overseas. Currently, the scholarship programme sponsors four
students for post graduate studies abroad every two years.
Ochei’s life revolves around
philanthropy as he has never hesitated to offer hope to the less privileged.
The popular belief in Delta North is that if Ochei could make such a mark as a
state legislator, he will do much better if he elected to represent the zone at
the senate. Ochei is not the typical Nigeria politician known for making
promises; he has in his private capacity as a businessman and philanthropist,
assisted people without making noise about it, contrary to the publication of
names of constituents who they claimed Nwaoboshi made. This explains the
clamour by the people of the zone for Ochei to be their next senator.
Going by the current mood of the
electorate in the zone, Ochei’s victory at the election is a fait accompli. His
victory at the polls will give Delta North a new lease of life in the area of
quality representation and ‘bumper harvest’ of dividends of democracy which the
zone lacks. Political analysts insist that the ACCORD PARTY candidate is better
placed to lift Delta North from the doldrums. There is no doubt that Ochei is
running a good race with all the elements in his favour.
Lamenting the predicament of his
Delta North people, Ochei has gone strategic in his campaigns to all the local
governments of the zone, selling his programmes. He has almost concluded his
tour of the zone as stakeholders, particularly of the PDP, fall over themselves
to endorse him. His wide acceptance across the zone has led to the destruction
of his campaign billboards. Ochei has worked so hard that it would be a
travesty of justice if Delta North people do not reward him with a landslide
victory on February 14.
Nwaoboshi who served as Chairman of
Delta State PDP has taken his constituents for granted for too long that most
of them, even from his party, PDP, has vowed never to allow him near the seat.
It is clear that Nwaoboshi does not
have a strong case to make about his bid to the senate after eight years of a
wicked neglect of his people. Many people still nurse a grudge against him for
the poor state of roads in the zone,electricity,thuggery,imposition,impuniuty, fraudulent
act,extort money and water.The people appear to be tired of his ‘song’ that
Chairman of Party have no role to play in attracting federal/state government’s
attention to the problem of infrastructure in their areas. The clamour for
quality representation has become louder; Delta North cannot afford to elect
senators who will be in the National Assembly to enrich themselves.
There is no doubt that Rt.Hon
(Engr)Victor Ochei is the right choice for the Delta North senate seat.
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