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By Uju Edochie
As the presidential election draws nearer, a review of the chances of the candidates, especially of the frontline parties, has become imperative. Without prejudice to opinion polls earlier conducted on the same matter by different agents, the chances of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in comparison with others are brighter. Apart from the fact of the PDP’s national spread (it shares this advantage with the ruling All Progressives Congress, but not the latter’s public resentment) the duo have continued to manifest leadership capacity and experience never bettered by any of the other candidates.
Atiku’s eight-years experience as former vice president which exposed him to the inner workings of the various components of the Nigerian state is ably complemented by Okowa’s which he gathered through gradual, but steady rise on the political ladder of Delta state. From secretary of Ika North Local Government Area of Delta State, through chairmanship of the same Local Council, Commissioner for Agriculture/Water Resources, Secretary to Delta State Government, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Governor, Okowa stands in good stead to augment the effort of his principal in steering ashore the troubled ship of the Nigerian state.
Little doubt the craft of the state is already snaking dangerously on the high sea and may capsize if a wrong captain and a chief mate were allowed control of the quarterdeck by February 2023. The Nigerian state requires little of the drama currently in focus and will be better able to handle her descent into a failed state by choosing competence, knowledge, experience above emotions and sentiments. She must pay no mind to demagoguery and the mundane effort to play up tribal and religious factors at the detriment of good governance. Reordering the priorities of the state right and reigniting the citizen’s confidence in Nigeria of our dream have greater chance of success under Atiku/Okowa presidency. No other candidate on the ballot has as much claim of holding Nigeria in one piece after the 2023 election as Atiku and Okowa. It is not for want of expression that Atiku is regarded as a unifier and perhaps there is no better time than now for the unifier to take office and heal the country. This is where Okowa as a vice president would be of the greatest value to Nigeria and Nigerians. Anybody conversant with composition of states in Nigeria will agree that Delta state where Okowa is governor is one of the few states that mirror Nigeria in diversity. Its ethnic diversity rather than augur for development (as is also the case with Nigeria) exposed her to regular conflicts. Ethnic eruptions were constant development and the state was almost in the news for the wrong reasons. Conflicts between and among sister communities were almost constant. Ijaw-Itsekiri, Urhobo-Itsekiri, Okpe – Urhobo among others were regularly warring among themselves and efforts at resolving their differences never achieved much. No sooner were issues in conflict resolved than more clashes erupted. But the last seven years of Okowa have thrown a garment of peace over the communities as would the moon a garment of silver over everything.
I do not to suggest that Okowa’s administration has brought all the problems in Delta State to an end, but many of them have been resolved to the point there is relative peace in the state today. The state has greatly improved in community relations. Nigeria on the other hand is bleeding profusely from every corner through ethnic conflict, herder/farmer clash, banditry, abduction and common criminality. To stanch the flow and stave off the threat of disintegration requires a leader with experience. The present state of the country does not encourage emotion, especially of the type that will continue to stifle peace and watch Nigeria bleed to death. It is for the same reason that some candidates with sense of entitlement, but without the disposition to bear the burden of the Nigerian state need some rude awakening on February 25. I have watched Okowa speak on issues and what the PDP presidency will do differently if they win. I do not propose to narrate at full length all what he said on each occasion as they are in the public domain, but suffice it to say that his submissions were deeply inspiring. He handled every conversation with deep insight and frankness uncommon among his colleagues. He did not just inspire confidence with his knowledge of the problems confronting the country, but expressed the willingness to apply himself positively to the task if elected. It is a fact of history that within a period of seven years he has established a total of three state universities with little or no fanfare. So far his administration has established University of Delta State in Agbor, University of Science and Technology in Ozoro and Denis Osadebe University in Anwai. There is nothing suggesting he will not be an influence of change if their presidential aspiration comes through.
Mild of behavior and speech, but principled in leadership, his choice complements Atiku’s so much so that anything short may spell more challenges for the already troubled state. The deficit brought to governance by the APC–controlled federal government encourages neither continuation of the party in office nor a tyro to learn on the job. Although there may be no sure way of knowing if indeed their presidency will manage Nigeria better or to what use the pan-Nigerian Atiku’s disposition will ameliorate the balkanization brought by the APC government, it is easy to tell an unfaithful wife by the bold and flirtatious looks in her eyes. Atiku is not new to every tribe and every sub groups in Nigeria. His fair handling of each group is not difficult to see with his associations while Okowa’s judicious dealings in Delta state are stark. There is no evidence to suggest there are assumptions in the character of both men. They will be faithful to Nigerians and will do as they promised.
Edochie writes via [email protected]
