SENATE VACANCY FOR UKWUANI-NDOSUMILI LAND IN 2027

BY PROFESSOR STEVE A. OKECHA
This is the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Five [2025]; 2026 is next door. Political activities for 2027 will begin soon. Our collective horoscope says to me, that it is now our turn to produce the Senator for Delta North in 2027. And I am convinced that it will come to pass, if we unite. Oh yes; no question about that.
This is bad news for those sons and daughters of our land, who always believe that we are underlings forever. They will surely have runny tummies, and I have no apologies.
Our land is the economic pillar of Delta North. The so-called politicians from the other ethnic groups in the region, dancing around us, as our brother’s keeper, are doing so because of our oil and gas. No more, no less.
Oil and gas are our strength; we should use them for bargaining politically in Delta North. We should also insist always on having the lion’s share.
Failure for us to produce a Senator from our land in 2027, means that we are either CURSED or irredeemably DAFT.
Some people wonder why I firmly believe, that we should produce the next Senator when there is already a Deputy Governor from Ukwuani – Ndosumili land. Such people cannot dissuade me from taking my position. In fact, we can actually gun for both positions, if we play our card well through good politics. If I am asked to chose only one, I prefer a Senator to a Deputy Governor. My brothers and sisters, a DG is purely ceremonial; the Constitution says so, somehow. He goes from place to place, handing over the staff of office from one traditional ruler to another. Two professors who served as DGs were unable to do anything for their people. A visionary, purposeful local government chairman is FAR more useful to the community than a DG. As I have often said:
“One Thousand Deputy Governors are NOT equal to One Executive Governor.” Senator Natasha [Kogi Central] and Senator David Jimkuta [Taraba South], both first-timers, have, for example, provided facilities that have significant impact on their constituents.
Ukwuani – Ndosumili land has a number of highly qualified and competent men and women, who can creditably serve as Senators. These people are also rich – in fact, richer than some of the outsiders our people seem to adour.
The people who eminently qualify to represent us in the Senate are:
• Men and women whose parents [fathers and mothers] are from our land.
• Those whose fathers only are from our land.
• Those whose mothers only are from our land. One of our brothers whose mother was an Ukwuani [his father, a non-Nigerian] once contested the Delta State governorship election with our people’s support.
• Women who belong to our communities by marriage.
For us, the campaign for the Senate should begin now. Let us not deceive ourselves, as of today, there are two formidable political parties in Delta State: PDP and APC. The political bigwigs from our region, who belong to these parties should ensure, that only our people are the flag bearers for the Senate. If other formidable political amalgamations or regroupings emerge, our people who may belong to them, should make sure that our people are the Senate flag bearers.
Nonchalance will do us no good. Those of us who are of the opinion that politics is a dirty game are daft and uninformed. I have always said that anyone who shuns and hates politics is LESS than man. I am a strong politician, but not partisan. Our people should participate in partisan politics for there lies the power. Do you believe that a 26-year old local council chairman can suspend any traditional ruler in his constituency in this country?
We, the elders of Ukwuani-Ndosumili land, should start consulting without delay vis-à-vis the Delta North Senate slot. This is our time; it is our turn to produce the next Delta North Senator. YES.

PROFESSOR STEVE A. OKECHA is a legendary Academia from Obiaruku, Delta State, Nigeria