Politics has become a game in which those who participate use persuasion to win the hearts of the people so that they can also get their votes during election time. In order to realize that goal, politicians tell the people what they want to do differently to better their lives. The goals of politics and Government which are the welfare and security of the people remain the same anywhere and everywhere. What the politicians tell the people or should be telling them is what they intend to do differently and how in order to ensure their security and welfare. This is why the idea of a manifesto which is a candidate’s statement of action is usually not taken for granted in politics, especially during an election period. This is now the accepted practice all over the world because people have come to accept that it is better to “jaw-jaw” than to “war war”. It should be added that the practice is healthy and it is a way of holding public office holders accountable to their promises as the people will always draw their attention and remind them about what they said when they were campaigning for their votes.
The above makes for a smooth and crisis-free manner of politicking. But sadly, the Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in the person of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege does not see politics as civil engagement. To him, politics is war where he uses uncouth language, lies, wild claims, and issue uncivil and unlawful threats. He thinks that politics should be about propaganda and that he who tells the most lies and shouts the most will win an election and govern the State. His style of politics is to take Delta State back to the era of jaguda politics where rough and inhuman tactics are the order of the day. Omo-Agege has shown that he has no integrity and his desperation further makes him behave in a way that casts doubts on a number of things about him. His behaviour has led to such questions like, is this man educated? Is he a lawyer? Did he really live in the USA where politics is so refined and people-driven? Is he really the son of an erudite Chief Judge? Does he have the interest of Delta State and her people at heart? What manner of a leader will he be?
Omo-Agege is principally a political carpetbagger. He has the highest record of decamping from one political party to another. Politics is for him a business where only profits are accumulated. Politics is not service and sacrifice for Omo-Agege. It is about grabbing power and using it for self-aggrandizement to the detriment of the generality of the people. Omo-Agege has never seen politics as being about the welfare of the people. He is an impostor who would break into Government’s file cabinet even on a Sunday when people are in church worshipping God. Yet, this is the man who stands on the campaign podium to throw stones at people he accuses of corruption when in truth they have done all to better the lot of Deltans. Since he lacks a convincing and well-articulated manifesto, Omo-Agege’s stock in trade is to cast aspersions and heap lies upon lies against the better politicians like Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State who is also the Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP and Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and the Delta State Governorship candidate of the PDP.
Omo-Agege is in mortal dread of both Okowa and Oborevwori. He is reminded every minute of the imminence of his defeat in the forthcoming election. What he adopted as a strategy is to lie against both men in order to discredit them. But this strategy is not working and instead of thinking outside the box and doing something constructive, Omo-Agege is descending more and more into the mud of shame. Interestingly, Okowa and Oborevwori have chosen not to join issues with him. So, as he abuses them and tells unfounded lies against them, they maintain a dignified silence that makes Omo-Agege look like a brat used to throwing tantrums.
Omo-Agege is a political roughneck who has neither an ideology nor a vision for Delta State. What politicians do today or will do tomorrow is a function of what they did in time past. This is why the good people of Delta State should critically question and scrutinize Omo-Agege’s public service record. Omo-Agege as a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant, Commissioner, and Secretary to the State Government was desperately on the prowl to loot Delta State. For a fugitive who fled from America with nothing to become a billionaire in one year without doing any business except being an appointee of Government only shows that he is a kleptomaniac. He diverted funds for fifty projects meant for his native Orogun and extorted contractors across the State. Delta State at that time became the State with the highest number of abandoned projects because of Omo-Agege’s financial extortion.
Omo-Agege cannot deceive Deltans because the Polytechnic he claims he is building in Orogun was actually intended for him to siphon money for his election. He held back the 100 billion naira meant for the project until other Senators threatened to drag him to the EFFC before he rushed back to site. He has also pocketed over 50 billion naira for many other Federal Government projects meant for Edo and Delta States. He is also deeply involved in budget padding in the Senate. Yet, this is the man who is accusing others of looting Delta State. He must learn the wisdom in the saying that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. He is the pot calling the kettle black.
It is also surprising that Omo-Agege will accuse Governor Okowa of betraying Chief James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State. Omo-Agege who stabbed his benefactor, Chief Great Ogboru in the back can actually call Governor Okowa, one of Nigeria’s most decent politicians a betrayer? Haba, Augustine Ovie Omo-Agege, please, stop throwing stones because you are living in a glass house. Nigerians and Deltans have not forgotten that you are a mace thief and also that you are a Daura slave.
Mr. Daniel Nwakolu writes from Asaba, Delta State
