2023: Thumbs Up For DC-23 Screening Committee

By Annabel Ogheneganre

When the DC-23 inaugurated a Committee to interface with the governorship aspirants of Urhobo extraction towards pruning down the number to a manageable size ahead of the 2023 general election, I was not in doubt as to the integrity of the committee members particularly, the chairman, Prof Nyerhovwo Tonukari and the Secretary, Prof Sunny Ahwefeada. My worry was in what Urhobo nation or Governor Okowa may wish to do with the outcome. I knew with Prof Tonukari and Ahwefeada at the head of the team, something good could come out of it. And the report released so far, pruning the number from 13 or thereabout to just 5 has confirmed the integrity of the team, their fairness and dedication as well as patriotic commitment to the best for Urhobo people.

If I were to pick from the list of those already in the race, my choice will not adversely be different from what the committee has done. Among the aspirants considered by the committee were Chief David Edevbie, Chief James Augoye, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevbori, Chief Abel Esievo, Chief Fred Majemite, Chief Ejaife Odebala and Hon Efe Oforbruku. Others are Chief Kenneth Gbagi, Chief Peter Mrakpor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief Efe Agas, Hon Bright Edejeghwro and Chief Sunday Solomon Oruarefe. The now Late Chief Kenneth Okpara was one of the 13 aspirants from the Urhobo nation in the race to government house.
All the persons listed above are eminently qualified for the office of governor. They have all it takes to make Urhobo and Delta state proud in government house. In terms of academic qualifications, contacts and connections, financial muscle, character and public or street credibility, they all have one advantage or quality standing them out in certain considerations but in all fairness, none could be said to lack the grace and finesse to be governor. However, the bitter truth remains that all 13 of them cannot be governor at the same time. Only one must carry the day. That was why the task before the committee was a daunting one. But they have delivered handsomely. The committee has given their nod to 5 out of the lot to proceed to the next stage of the screening. The five men standing include: Chief Keneth Gbagi, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief David Edevbie, Chief James Augoye and Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevbori.
Gbagi: Chief Kenneth Gbagi is a former Minister for Education under the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. The strong man of Oginibo politics is a lawyer, a criminologist and a no-nonsense political lion of Urhoboland. He parades a brilliant academic record, reputed to be one of the biggest individual employer of labour in Delta State, has diversified investments in different chains of businesses across Nigeria and abroad, highly connected to the high and mighty across the political divide and a man of intimidating political profile. He dines and wines with the high and mighty in the society, both in business, religious and political spheres. He is well known all over Nigeria. The name Gbagi rings a bell and does not need introduction anywhere. However, he lacks street credibility. Chief Kenneth Gbagi does not have any visible political leader in Delta State. He respects only Chief E.K Clark on account of age and nobody in Delta State could be identified as his leader, or someone he could yield to his opinion on any matter. He is almost too strong for a multi-ethnic state like Delta.

Aguariavwodo: Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo is a multi-talented and experienced public administrator. He cuts his teeth as a Journalist under the Ibru organization and later a media owner. He contested and won under the defunct APP in 1999 to the House of Representatives and later became Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission. He also served as Chairman of the Niger River Basin Development Authority. He became a Senator in 2013 and has been Special Adviser to Governor Okowa since 2015. His diversity of experience on the political turf is not in doubt. Senator Aguariavwodo personifies humility; he is simple, thorough, charming and a beautiful bride for the 2023 gubernatorial contest.

Edevbie: Chief David Edevbie parades the most intimidating political and academic profiles of all the aspirants. If there is a man one could consider to be ‘almost over qualified’ for the office, that man is David Edevbie. He is almost faultless, suave and manifests the attributes of a man, for whom, a benevolent spirit has helped to crack his palm kernels. He is well read, groomed for greatness, graduated from the University of Benin, acquired a diversity of academic laurels from top flight institutions across the globe, and gained working experiences in the Banking sector from Europe and America before coming home since 1999 to serve the state and nation. Edevbie became Commissioner for Finance to the James Ibori, Emmanuel Uduaghan and until recently Ifeanyi Okowa, reserving the privilege of having served under these three governors of the State. He also served as Chief of Staff (Principal Secretary) to Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Chief David Edevbie’s experience as a politician is so incredibly sound and intimidating that one even wonders why some persons would be running against such a character whose carriage, conduct and dignified posture stand him out as a man of destiny, thoroughly prepared for a time like this. He holds the title of Avwerosuoghene of Ughelli Kingdom.

Augoye: Chief James Augoye is the immediate past Commissioner for Works under the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. The Okpe-born political tactician is a graduate of the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma. He was in the civil service and was elected Councilor in Okpe Local Government Council and later Executive Chairman, Transition Committee of the Council from 2012 to 2014. Augoye’s tenure as Commissioner for Works has been very impressive and rewarding. He is one of the most popular characters among the aspirants, connecting with the grassroot and working to make impact wherever he is. Augoye is humble, a man of few words and a Chief in Okpe Kingdom. Augoye is a product of the Delta Political Vanguard and his ambition is being propelled and groomed by the group for a better Delta State. DPV is the strongest political force in present Delta state.

Oborevwori: The Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. He is a graduate of the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma and Delta State University, Abraka. He was elected councilor in 1996 and later member of the Delta State House of Assembly in 2015. Two years into his first tenure in the House, he was elected Speaker by both old and new members. He got re-elected in 2019 and became Speaker again. He also attended the Manchester Business School and the London School of Economics and Political Sciences where he got several experiences to brighten his leadership profile. Oborevwori is simple and a jolly good fellow. He is hoping to get the support of his colleagues in the House to gain momentum from across the state. He too, is a product of the Delta Political Vanguard.
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From the analysis above, it is obvious that the five men have the qualities of a governor. Any of them could be considered but since five of them cannot be governor at the same time, the screening committee must take the bull by the horn, take tough decisions and prune down the number to three before the coming PDP primaries. At things stand, the five aspirants standing are from three local government areas of Okpe, Ugheli North and Ughelli South. For Okpe LGA we have Sheriff Oborevwori and James Augoye; from Ughelli North is David Edevbie while Emmanuel Aguariavwodo and Kenneth Gbagi are from Ughelli South. The committee should simply take one aspirant from each of the three local government areas and let the people decide the PDP flag-bearer from there.

This writer also wishes to appeal to the other aspirants to be kind enough to accept the decision in good faith. It is a bitter pill to swallow but considering the fact that only one person must win the prize at the end of the day, their patriotic concern for Urhobo is hereby appealed to so that the process will not be scuttled. The way and manner they react to this process matters a great deal. I have read statements from some of the aspirants denouncing the committee because they could not scale through the first hurdle. That should not distract the committee. Prof Tonukari and his members should be focused on the task ahead, be firm enough to ‘break the boil’ and let Urhobo get it right this time around for a true Urhobo patriot to emerge governor in 2023.

Annabel Ogheneganre writes from Garki, Abuja. (09030558731 SMS only or [email protected])