Delta 2015: Keyamo’s quest to oust PDP dynasty

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE
THE race for the Delta State Government House is getting keener by the
day. Apart from a horde of aspirants jostling for the position on the
banner of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), a couple of
others are laying claim to the governorship seat on the plank of
opposition parties.
One of those, who want to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015
via opposition platform is activist lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who
declared his intent on March 9, 2013.
Currently, Keyamo is mobilizing support for his ambition through the
Delta Forces United (DFU). He is yet to publicly declare for any
political party,but his body language and comments indicate that he
may declare for the yet-to-be-registered All Progressives Congress,
APC.
Wrestling power from political dynasty: His entry into the race,
whichhe has repeatedly referred to as a struggle to wrestle power from
the political dynasty that has "mismanaged" the state since 1999 is
already raising dusts in the oil-rich state christened the 'Big
Heart.'
Indeed, Keyamo's vow to rescue Deltafrom alleged strangle hold and
mismanagement of the PDP since 1999 elicited a sharp response from the
State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, who advised Keyamo to
retreat from the race soon after the activist made his intention
known.
Ogeah, who described Keyamo as a political neophyte, asked him to
leave the unfamiliar political terrain and concentrate on doing what
he knew how to do best - law practice and human rights activism.
Keyamo's bravado and gutsy remarks that cast him in the mould of a
fearless gladiator in the battle for the Asaba Government House drew
flak from some PDP leaders and faithful.
Widening support base: In spite of misgivings in some quarters about
Keyamo's intention, his support base has continued to widen across the
state with the inauguration of Delta Forces United - a socio-political
group he founded to convey his message. With his mission statement of
positive change weaved around his belief in participatory democracy
and even development, more people are already appreciating his
preachment that governance is more than a tenacious hold on power by a
few who do not mean well for a larger number of the citizenry.
Indeed, DFU secretariat said about 4000 Deltans had officially
registered with the group in the last three months as members. The
DFU, among other things, believes that the only way to discover a new
leadership for the state is not by promoting leadership on the narrow
platform of any ethnic group or self-seeking philosophy. It strongly
believes in returning Delta State to the people through mass
mobilization and participation in the political process and not by
cynicism, despondency and political abstinence.
To drive its objectives home, the DFU has been holding town hall
meetings across the state where a host of change-desirous citizens
have declared their support for Keyamo.Town hall meetings: In the past
few weeks, Keyamo's supporters at Ughelli North, Sapele, Aniocha North
and Isoko South local councils have taken turns to host him. Other
local councils are also making plans to hosthim, Vanguard learnt.
At each of the gatherings, a large crowd of people, who are eager to
have a change of leadership, receivedhim. There appeared to be a
convergence in the way people in thevarious local communities feel
about perceived underdevelopment in many parts of the state.
Irrespective of their different ethnic groups and earlier political
persuasions, speakers at the events said that given his pedigree as an
accomplished lawyer, administrator and consummate activist with
egalitarian tendency, Keyamo would make a better governor than what
Deltans have witnessed in the last 14 years.
At Issele-Uku, Delta North Senatorial district, on June 8, 2013,
Keyamo was almost short of words in expressing how surprised he was to
see the hundreds of men and women, old andyoung who had gathered to
receive him.
For any conscious political observer, Keyamo said the town hall
meeting atIssele-Uku was a lesson for all those who were still
immersed in the old belief that political leadership must rightly or
wrongly be anchored on ethnic consideration.
Dividends of democracy
"At a time some politicians of Anioma extraction are insisting that it
is their turn to produce the next governor of the state, the
Issele-Uku event only goes to show that not many people are interested
in where the leader comes from, insofar as he can provide the
necessities of life and other dividends of democracy for the citizenry
and not for a selfish few," he said.
With many years of failed promises bythe PDP leadership, Keyamo's
supporters in Sapele, Aniocha North, Isoko and other parts of the
state said they do not need a soothsayer to advise them on the way
forward.
15 parties endorse Keyamo: To boost his aspiration, 15 opposition
political parties recently declared their support for Keyamo. This
came two weeks after he made his governorship intention public. Led by
chieftains of Action Congress of Nigeria, Labour Party, All Nigerian
Peoples Party and others to Keyamo'scountry home in Effurun-Warri, the
party officials pledged not to field candidates for the governorship
race in 2015 as they had adopted him as their common candidate. This
decision was hinged on their belief inhis ability to bring a positive
change in the governance of the state.
Woos Deltans in the Diaspora: Keyamo is taking mobilization beyond the
shores of Nigeria and Delta indigenes in the Diaspora particularly in
Europe are already lending their support. In May, he toured Ireland,
Holland and United Kingdom for about two weeks where he was warmly
received by Delta State citizens residing in those countries.
According to Delta Forces United spokesman; Mr. Frank Oshanugor, the
essence of the tour was for Keyamo tomeet Delta communities in the
Diaspora with a view to intimating them of his governorship intention
and seek their support in the struggleto positively recreate
governance in the state.
Governorship intention
At Rotterdam in Holland which was hisfirst port of call, he was
reportedly received by fellow Deltans under the auspice of Sunny Ofehe
Foundation.
And while in Dublin, Ireland, leaders of the Anioma Union led by
Onyinye Anyanwu, Jude Isioma Ngadonye, Pastor Austin Francis, Solomon
Ngadonye and Emmanuel Akpojewa hosted him. His message of a positive
change in Delta was the same and he got their blessings.
In United Kingdom, he was received by members of his alma mater -
Government College, Ughelli Old BoysAssociation (London Branch) and
other Delta communities at Pekan, London.
According to Oshanugor, leaders of the various organizations, who
participated at the London "meet the people event", included Olorogun
Charles Okobia, Sylvester Efole, Angus Omasoro, Alloysious Oyeye and
Nero Ughwujabo. Others were Chief Peter Edumijeke, Ochoko Udu, Tony
Enakimoni and Doro Odiri.
Oshanugor said the tour was preparatory to a larger outing planned for
the nearest future to seekmore support for Keyamo's effortto take
Delta State to a higher political realm which would be devoid of
cronyism, political brigandage, god-fatherism and under-development.