The long speculation surrounding the political ambition of Hon Ben Obuh, the Chairman of PDP, Delta North, has finally come to rest with the hint given by one of his confidants, Mr. Williams Eghebi.
In a chat with Ika Weekly, Mr. Eghebi said in clear terms that Hon. Obuh was already consulting with identified party leaders and stakeholders on his desire to represent Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. This clarification according to him was borne out of series of discussions with the former Chairman of Ika South Local Government Area.
“I think I am in a position to tell the people that Hon Obuh would seek the mandate of the people to represent them. He has been under intense pressure to throw his hat into the ring especially considering the recent embarrassment caused our people in recent times.”
He said the time has come for real politicians to occupy political offices if the minimum expectations of the people would be met, stressing that every concerned son and daughter of Ika should be weeping because of their silence in the face of greedy representation and coercion of the people.
He said the people of Ika are not ashamed turning themselves the zombie of Delta State, preferring to return wry smile for long deprivations. He attributed the infrastructural decay in the area to lack of effective representation.
“Our people look somewhere to decide where to cast their votes. They no longer have confidence in themselves. They believe that somebody in Asaba or Abuja will tell them how to cast their votes. When did we become inferiors and cheer-leaders? Our destiny lies with us, not with anybody elsewhere. I am happy that Hon. Obuh will contest this election. He has the experience, the reach and humility needed to kick-start a new dawn of selfless service.” He maintained.
When asked about his assessment of the other aspirants in the race, Mr. Williams said: “I am a member of a group that has vowed to oppose ‘brief case’ politicians. Some of the other aspirants are not only friends to me but are eminently good enough to represent us, but the results from Disapora representations this far are against such risk again. I was away for about six years. And I have found out that I needed to get adjusted to the dynamics on ground before I can offer myself to serve especially in parliamentary position. I expect others to do the same. I will soon have frank discussions with these friends. Politics is like a butchered elephant. There is enough to go round.”
Continuing further, Mr. Williams said it was a sign of better days for Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Dr. Cairo Ojougboh to seek the votes of the people for the senate. In his opinion, there is nothing to show for the almost twelve years’ representation of Senator Patrick Osakwe.
“My people should have cause to merry with the aspirations of Dr, Okowa and Dr. Ojougboh. Apart from being well-schooled, they have seen it all in politics. They are the best for now but there can only be one senator at a time. There is a water-thin difference between Agbor and Owa. The hawks, motivated by pecuniary motivation should not be encouraged to continue to fan ember of disunity. I am looking up to a dispassionate resolution by our leaders without recourse to place of birth,” he concluded.
OBUH ANSWERS THE CALL TO SERVE; AS OKWUADA PROMISES PURPOSEFUL REPRESENTATION
By Jonathan Onwuka
Following a resolution by Ika South Political Stakeholders, to the effect that imposition of candidates for elective positions in Ika South will no longer be accepted by the people in the next dispensation, well meaning members of the group have approached Hon. Ben Obuh to vie for the House of Representatives come 2011.
The members who approached Hon. Obuh had requested him to make himself available, for the position, in an effort to enthrone credible representation for Ika Federal Constituency, at the House of Representatives, Abuja. The group noted that purposeful and effective representation at that level has eluded the people of Ika nation, whom they opined deserved more than they have gotten in the past. They therefore urged him to step out to host the flag of Ika Federal Constituency at Abuja, so as to attract the much desired dividends of democracy.
In his response, Hon. Ben Obuh, who is one time Ika South Local Government executive chairman and currently, chairman, Delta North Peoples Democratic Party, said he has been meditating over the issue for sometime now, adding that the coming of the group which he described as timely has galvanized him into taking practical steps to vigorously pursue his intention.
While acceeding to the clarion request of the group to bring his wealth of political experience to bear in giving Ika Federal Constituency purposeful representation, the PDP, Delta North Chairman said he will endeavor to see that Ika nation is fully represented at Abuja, if given the mandate, in 2011. He therefore urged for “the support for enormous task of repositioning Ika nation at the national level.”
In a related development, Dr. Philips Okwuada has called for support for his House of Assembly ambition. The aspirant who declared his intention to the Ika South political stakeholders said he will work assiduously in ensuring that Ika South Constituency derives utmost benefit from his representation, if effected into the State House of Assembly, come 2011. He noted that the time has come for political elective office holders to be accountable to the people, on whose mandate they were there in the first place.
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