When the hallowed chamber of the Delta State House of Assembly opens on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, for the inauguration of the 8th Assembly by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, three major leadership positions will be up for grabs by the returning and newly elected members.
Most Deltans particularly the political actors familiar with the power-sharing arrangement in the 2nd and 3rd Assembly under the administration of former Governor James Ibori will be looking forward to a re-enactment of the old order in the present political dispensation. Their view holds water, bearing in mind that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, still holding sway in the political arena of Delta State, has been able to weather the storm to sustain the ‘Gentleman’ power rotation formula between the three senatorial districts of the state. The immediate past governor of the state, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, with his shortcomings will not be forgotten in a hurry for standing firm to further reinforce the power rotation arrangement.
Mixed feelings often follow the emergence of a new leadership of the House. This is because while the leadership of majority political party will be focusing on certain criteria like party loyalty, local government, federal constituency, and senatorial district of the possible candidates for the positions; the majority of Deltans yearning for good governance, and sustained development of the state will desire a leadership with competence, capacity sincerity of purpose and not one that is an appendage of the executive arm.
This is where the thinking of the incumbent governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori comes to play the same way the political horse-trading and intrigues have characterized the buildup to the new leadership of the National Assembly that will be working with President Bola Tinubu to actualize his Renewed Hope agenda.
Will Governor Oborevwori covertly jettison competence and pedigree for the best hands for the jobs or give preference to party loyalty and personal friendship in the choice of the leadership of the 8th Assembly? Those close to the Okpe-born governor and who have worked closely with him score him high when it comes to making such sensitive decisions especially as it borders on the success of his administration. Some say he is a man not easily given to incompetence, lack of integrity, tribalism, and other sentiments which have slowed down the progress of the Nigerian state, particularly judging by his remarkable leadership of the House as Speaker for six years.
While the leadership of the PDP in the state and other key stakeholders will by now be dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s, Deltans will be looking forward to see that those who the caps fit, emerge as principal officers of the House.
SPEAKER: Emomotimi Guwor versus Ferguson Onwo
Two returning members of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Emomotimi Guwor and Hon Ferguson Onwo are in the race for the Speakership position. Barring any last minute changes NewsNet Nigeria authoritatively gathered from a member of the inner circle of the present administration who craved anonymity that Hon Guwor is most favoured to emerge as the Speaker of the 8th Assembly.
Although Hon Onwo, who was the Majority Leader of the just concluded 7th Assembly and has been visibly around Governor Sheriff Oborevwori since he assumed office had been widely speculated to become the Speaker. Our dependable source revealed that the Delta South Senatorial District seat won by an Isoko man of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator-Elect, Joel Onowakpo Thomas, tactically knocked out Hon Onwo from becoming the Speaker.
For Hon Guwor, the lot it was gathered also fell on him instead of an old member of the House from his Ijaw extraction and immediate past Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Kenneth Oboro Preyor in order to pacify High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemukpolo (AKA Tompolo).
So, ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration and all things being equal, the Ijaw nation in Delta State will be agog as their son becomes the No 3 most powerful political office holder in Delta State. How it will all play out will be revealed in a matter hours.
DEPUTY SPEAKER: Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, Esq.
At least for breaking the jinx of the PDP not being able to win the Ethiope East House of Assembly seat in the past 16 years, since the two tenures of Olorogun Akpodiogaga Emeyese in the administration of former Governor James Ibori, Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, sources say deserves to be compensated with the position of Deputy Speaker of the 8th Assembly. The resources and energy the former student of Baptist High School, Eku, and graduate of the University of Benin deployed to wrestle power from the opposition party which were clearly obvious before, during and after the March 18, 2023, House of Assembly and Governorship elections have given an edge.
Political pundits following the political developments in Ethiope East Local Government Area say one factor that really worked in favour of the Eku-born politician was his grassroots approach to politics. No wonder according them many supporters of the PDP felt terribly bad when he was appealed to in the same contest in 2019 to step down for someone else to fly the party’s flag. And in the end, the PDP lost that election.
It is expected that if he eventually emerges as the Deputy Speaker come Tuesday as a former State Youth Leader of the PDP, his rise to political reckoning would greatly inspire majority of the youths in the state.
