TONY OBUH FOR GOVERNOR 2015: TRIBAL POLITICS AND THE 21ST CENTURY QUESTFOR PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNANCE: By Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe(Political Analyst).

I have read several posts and newspaper articles by political actors and party faithful who tend to favour Urhobo Candidate for 2015 Delta Governorship elections.They anchored their defense on the fact that Urhobos are majority in the State, Delta North has State Capital and Delta North sons and daughters occupy juicy political appointments and positions both at State and Federal levels; and therefore do not deserve to produce Governor in 2015.

Let me now address issues one after the other.

 (1) Urhobo Majority. It is true that Urhobos are majority in terms of population in the State. This advantage is divine and a privilege from God. It is not to oppress the minority.

That we are majority does not translate to using our numerical strength to relegate minority groups to the background politically. We need to be our brothers keepers and extend hands of love and politics of inclusion to the minority groups to enhance love, peace, security and unity.

The Boko Haram insurgency has been traced to the North's claim of population supremacy and their divine rights to continue to rule Nigeria to the exclusion of the minority groups in the country. Therefore, President Jonathan's emergence by the finger of God in favour of the minority has provoked acute anger occassioned by massive bombings and killing of innocent Nigerians.

Deltans must learn from the Northerners' mistakes which has caused this nation untold sorrow, tears and insecurity. Urhobos majority is a divine occurence which should not be used to coercise our minority brothers and sisters. Urhobos are well known as peace lovers, friendly, accommodative, reasonable and proactive in balancing life equations. We must not deviate from our golden qualities.

Besides, we must learn to play politics of "always gaining in every government" and not always play "fight to loose politics" as has been the case in recent years. Urhobos fought Uduaghan with several court cases and we lost all of them. Now, some of us want us to unit to fight Tony Obuh in 2015. No. We must not do that. We must join hands with Tony Obuh so that at the end of the elections we can look straight to his face and demand for our share of political appointments and development across board.

(2) Capital of Delta State in Delta North. We all know that General Babaginda did it to please his late wife, Mariam. It was never debated in the National Assembly or State House of Assembly. It was by military might and we must put it behind us. Again, does it mean that if the State Capital was to be located in Ughelli, for instance, no Ughelli son or daughter is entitled to become the State Governor? The correct answer is NO. Therefore, the issue of State capital does not hold waters. Any body can aspire to become Governor and move to Asaba to control the affairs of the State. Gov. Felix Ibru and Chief Ibori controlled Asaba and the State as Governor.

(3) High Political Appointments and Juicy positions occupied by sons and daughters of Delta North. I made it clear in my previous piece that we the Urhobos should not be jealous of the achievements of our brothers and sisters in Delta North, rather we should emulate them by playing politics of "collective progress" and give up the present style of "self and family politics."

In Delta North, they help each other politically by strategically fixing their folks in sensitive positions of great rewards in government. What has our Urhobo leaders in government done to fix our qualified folks in juicy political appointments and in prime places in civil service?

We should blame ourselves and not get jealous of our prime time political actors in Delta North. Delta North knows the tricks for greatness in governance that's why they lobby extensively to fix their people in prime positions in government.

Urhobo political leaders and technocrats should wake up and begin to do the right things by fixing our folks in juicy appointments in government and in civil service both at state and federal levels. This is the cure to our political backwardness and not invoke laughable curses on our people during elections as was proposed in the undemocratic "Uvbiamuge Declaration" of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) which seeks to produce Urhobo Governor at all cost.

This is 21st Century politics where we have freedom of choice individually and not by threat, intimidation and coercion.

Finally, all over the world and in modern democracies, the selection of party flag bearer is an internal excercise of the party while the making of a Governor is by general franchise by the generality of the people. 

Deltans have not been denied of this right to choice their Governor and therefore the issue of "godfatherism" does not arise. Let's be proactive in our political reasoning.

If your candidate and my candidate did not get the party ticket, the best thing to do is to accept the choice of our party and vote enmass for Tony Obuh in 2015. It has been confirmed that Obuh is a super brand, highly detribalised and will ensure equal distribution of political appointments and overall development of Delta State. Tribal politics is uncivilized and belong to the 18th century political calculations.

Delta is ONE and UNITED. Tony Obuh for Governor is a done deal. Please key into the Obuh project as fast as you can. God bless Delta State.