It started as an idle beer parlour or taxi- cab gist that in the womb of time, some ‘Dark Horse’ (a term meaning that it was deemed unlikely), would emerge on the political landscape of the vibrant Delta politics, whose ‘un-heralded’ entry it seemed to the suffocating armada of billboards and posters, all jockeying for the plum job in 2015.

When such an entry occurs, it might well    either    cause    an upset for the trumpeted, settled grand-masters of the hardcore and uncompromising optimists among the    professional political class    or create an equivalent of a political earthquake when the Horse, who they did not see coming, finally and quietly emerges to the glory of God.

THANKSGIVING: from left; PDP Governorship aspirant, Sir Anthony Obuh, his wife Mrs. Esther Obuh, Tony Obuh (jr) Nma Obuh and the Secrtary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozuorie Macaulay during the thanksgiving service marking the voluntary retirement of the guber aspirant held at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Agbor last week. Photo: Henry Unini

In my previous series from my seemingly prophetic crystal-ball on the 2015 Delta gubernatorial gladiators, I had always played or toyed with the idea    of some dark horses from the blues that could determine the new direction of politics in Delta State.

For a state that had sought accommodation with the church in the past 15 years, a state that had transited from the ‘Big Heart’ to the ‘Finger of God’, it had been tagged a praying state, every power-seeking politician has routinely offered thanks and  sought the face of God for blessings and favour.

Last Sunday, Yours Truly was among thousands invited to Agbor, exactly at St. John’s Catholic Church, along that sloping old Benin-Agbor road that criss-crosses a landmark bridge hanging over the Orogodo River where perennial floods usually overflow its banks and make the road impassable during the rainy seasons but thank God for most clement conditions on that day!

It is an age-old church with history and tradition that had served the people of Agbor for many decades. That includes one of their sons, Mr. Tony Chuks Obuh, from Oki in Agbor Ancient Kingdom, where the revered traditional ruler, a hereditary title from his father, the Dein of Agbor, His Royal Majesty, Obi Kiagbokuzi, Ikenchunkwu I, Dein Of Agbor Knigdom reigns supreme.    Tony Obuh after serving both in Bendel and Delta states for 32 years had voluntarily retired from the Delta State Civil Service as Permanent Secretary, Government House and Protocol, with his head high on his shoulders.

The thanksgiving was to celebrate his successful retirement in good health but midway into the service, the Reverend Father, Joseph Ugboh prayed to the watching Heavens that: “Bless, Tony Obuh, Father that one day, he will be Governor of this state.”

For many Agbor indigenes, it was a perfect and proud home-coming for one of their own. They savoured it to the fullest: men, women and little children, the old and young, including pregnant women, all salivated in the ambiance of the thanksgiving.

The who-is-who in Delta politics, especially, the establishment shakers and movers of the current administration were there and ostensibly, they had assembled in such large numbers as indicative of the systemic support to an outgoing member of the present government to thank God for 32 years meritorious service and realize his post-retirement dreams.

There was the Governor’s spiritual pillar of support in Deaconess Roli Nere Uduaghan, seated resplendently next to the Secretary to State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay,    the government was adequately represented at the thanksgiving .

Other dignitaries at the church were the PDP Chairman, Barrister Peter Nwaoboshi, whose eyes are still fixed to the Red Chamber in Abuja- the Senate; I saw the Speaker of the DTHA, Rt. Hon. Peter Onwusanya, his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Basil Ganagana; two prominent faces I also saw were Dr. Festus Okubor and Chief Paulinus Akpeki, both of them also had their eyes on 2015.

Chief Akpeki, Commissioner for Housing from Sapele and Dr. Okubor, an Ika Son are believed to be looking forward to 2015 but who really knows?. Others I saw in the House of God included Chief Ighoyota Amori, Senior Political Adviser to Governor Uduaghan and a formidable politician from the Central Senatorial District, Chief Monday Igbuya, Majority Leader of the State Assembly and to mention one of the earliest supporters of Anthony Obuh’s initiative to throw in his hat into the 2015 gubernatorial ‘rumble’ and one of the old war horses of the Nigeria-Biafra civil war,[ 1967-70], he is Brigadier-General Alabi Isama (rtd), leader of the Izu Anioma political pressure group’ he was the Chairman    of the reception after the church service at the Government Field, Agbor.

I also saw in the crowded church, the ‘foot soldiers’ of the PDP government, I mean the caretaker council chairmen from the 25 local governments, women groups and youths, past and present civil service gurus, former Heads of service and many officials of the government all came to celebrate with one of their own in Anthony Chuks Obuh.

The metamorphosis of Tony Obuh from the bureaucracy, seems, to me, to mark the beginning of a new marriage between the hitherto taciturn civil service operatives (so to speak) and the political class in a symbiotic relationship where it becomes difficult to draw a distinct line but see the linkage between politicians and civil servants.

As such, it was no surprise to see myriad support/acknowledgment of Obuh    across the state, singing and echoing the Obuh story so far, which had gradually coalesced into what one might call ‘OBUH-ISM’, a metaphor for the Obuh dream, vision, sermon and all what he symbolizes.

For a former hardcore civil servant whose humility had become service personified, many observers are waiting to see when he would declare openly    for the 2015 governorship race, which when it comes, their dreams of continuity for a greater Delta  would begin.

Out of the church, one moved over to the Government field which had been canopied for the reception. The crowd there made the one in the church look like a small classroom; out there was more of a carnival-like atmospherics with a live band from Warri, owned by    a young Warri-based business tycoon

in Ayeri Emami, a Chief of the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse. He was the first convener of the ‘Obuh for Governor’ campaign and held the first meeting in the Asaba home of the Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Tony Nwaka, PH.D.

At the reception grounds sprawling with the ‘Obuh Crowd’ from all the senatorial districts of the state, the masters of ceremony announced the following groups: Delta En masse for Tony Obuh, One Belle group, Love Your Neighbor dancing group, Progressive Initiative, Delta United for Obuh, Egbema Progressive Assembly from Warri North LGA, Consolidation Agenda for    Tony Obuh and Delta Central Youths for Tony Obuh.

When the Chairman, Alabi Isama mounted the rostrum, he spoke and prayed for Brother Tony in this vein: “Today’s bright weather is an indication of what the celebrant is likely to reap in his total desires for the immediate future. I am praying that as a proud son of IKa Ethnic nationality and the larger Anioma  people, may God continue to guard and guide you throughout your ambition to become the Governor in 2015.

I have no doubt that with your exceptional qualities as a retired permanent secretary, after serving meritoriously for 32 years in both Bendel and Delta states, God almighty will crown your efforts with resounding success in the coming 2015 governorship elections. We are solidly behind you, Tony Chuks Obuh, go and win the most coveted gubernatorial baton from the incumbent Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. God bless Delta State and the Anioma people.”

It was not act of mere coincidence      but divinely arranged platform for two great sons of Delta State to opine    and file behind Tony Chuks    Obuh in Agbor last Sunday as another top member of the Delta State Government, SSG Macaulay, who a few months ago had been misquoted by some miscreant reporter to the effect that Comrade Macaulay had expressed some reservations about an Anioma son as Governor in 2015, as he drew some anger (due to that misguided report) from the retired Alabi    Isama, leader of the Izu Anioma, threatening    and giving some ultimatum to the well-grounded    Comrade Macaulay to retract whatever was the misgivings coming from him with regard to 2015. But last Sunday, both were on the same page, leaving that reporter biting his fingers

Comrade Ovuouzourie Macaulay laid the ghost to rest, as it were, in Agbor when he eloquently and unequivocally said that having worked with Tony Obuh over the years, he found him eminently qualified as he had served the state so well that he could manage the complex nature of Delta if given the opportunity to govern it in 2015.

Comrade Macaulay said further: “Tony Obuh always carried out his responsibilities with smiles on his face and I can vouch that he is someone we can trust with great responsibilities while we sleep, he is never tired or complains in the face of daunting pressures.”

The presiding Priest, Rev. Father Joseph Ugboh said that consulting God for a thanksgiving has the opportunity of opening doors for those who seek his face. From the crowd and systemic support in an ‘Obuh-mania’ at Agbor exemplifies solidarity, so to speak as it is perhaps,    appropriate to assume that the Obuh moving train has won many hearts across the state.

In his response to all the joyous outing at the Government field, Agbor, Anthony Chuks Obuk had a rare opportunity to showcase his gift, dressed in white jumper and  shokoto, he stood in front of the large crowd and briefly highlighted what appeared to be some snippets from that ‘OBUH-ISM’ sermon.

Hear him: “I feel overwhelmed by the large unprecedented crowd here in Agbor as a show of goodwill and support for my yet-to-be declared ambition to run    for    the governorship in 2015    in Delta State.”

“Having worked for 32 years as a humble civil servant and passed through the crucible of the nitty-gritty      of good governance and the democratic imperatives of how a government is run successfully in our clime, I can assure you all    that after my consultations, I will come out smoking with my blueprint of my core areas    of concern to the people of Delta state.”

“From my vantage positions criss- crossing several ministries and departments of government, I realize that we have large cultivatable lands around us which could stand us in good stead, if properly harnessed, to bail us out through Delta Beyond Oil to a buoyant economy.”

Something that sometimes worries me is the large pool of the youth population in Delta State and how to redirect their curriculum in Technical Colleges where they could sharpen their skills and professional touch for purposes of self- recruitment and survival in a society that is more ICT-driven and self- employment driven. He thanked all those who had come from far and near to partake in his moment of glory and thanksgiving to God for sparing his life in the past 32 years. “And as I stand here today, I am in the job market and ready to serve the state in a more challenging capacity to impact on the lives of the people of Delta State.”

And in the background, there were shouts of ‘Tony Obuh, Carry Go with 2015 elections as Governor’.      It was as euphoric as that all over the Agbor Government field, it was all showering praises and goodwill messages to Tony Obuh.

But beyond the euphoria for the penetrating ‘Obuh-ism’, one must quickly add that with the coming of an Obuh contending for 2015. I want to remind us as a systemic observer over the past few years, what the hard-boiled civil servant in Tony Obuh, the ‘Man of the Moment’ told the crowd in Agbor at the reception grounds.

The Anioma state stakeholders, traditional rulers from Delta North, Youth groups across the Anioma political stage should move in and re-strategize and possibly prune down the avalanche of over 15 or so contenders from the ruling party to dowse      whatever cracks or flares that might erupt into an unquenchable political inferno and break the PDP Umbrella down the middle, God forbids.

We must guard against dividing the ruling party and unwittingly driving some top contenders, who should never jump the PDP boat into another waiting opposition ferry which may not carry them too far in the contention for the    top governorship post in 2015.

There is no doubt that the PDP in Delta State is solid like the Rock of Gibraltar or Olumo Rock of Abeokuta. Any complacency in politics might be too dangerous to contemplate. God is the ultimate giver of power on Earth, so the Men of God had proclaimed. And like I will always say, if the ‘Obuhism Sermon’ has been bought into by a majority of the people in Delta and the ‘systemic system’ and if it be the righteous way to go, let the best and divinely-propelled contender prevail. Amen!

“I am still consulting”, so said Tony Obuh in that unforgettable Agbor gathering.    And to round off my piece on the Obuh-mania which has become viral in the political circles in Delta, one would want to remind our politicians on what Governor Uduaghan said at the 23rd  anniversary of the creation of Delta thanksgiving at the Anglican Cathedral in Asaba, saying that: “I can see    most of the governorship contestants in the church  today.

In 2007, I was disqualified in Port Harcourt by the screening officers but God up-turned the Port Harcourt decision in Abuja and I was cleared to contest and I won. In 2015, it is not by power, money or beauty that one can become Governor in Delta State. If God does not approve of your candidacy, there is nothing you can do about it.” It was a bold and true statement of fact by an incumbent governor.

I also wish to recall in another arena at the Government House Press Centre in Asaba when he hosted the media to brief them on sundry issues. Responding to my question, he made it clear he was not clamping down on the polity; that was a few months ago. Hear him: “If any contender or politician is gathering weapons of selective or collective destruction to cause mayhem over the 2015 elections, he may not have the opportunity to use those weapons.”

It can only come from a Man who has seen it all, survived militancy in the Warri axis and survived three governorship elections during his eight-year tenure coming to a close on May 2015; I think we should listen to him and be security-abiding: Peace and Security is his middle name with all what he has done in that area, showing crime the way out.

I believe he can midwife a peaceful transition to the next anchor Man who would further pilot the state beyond oil and further nurture the beautiful triplets- the Three-Point Agenda.