AFTER reading the interview of Francis Ehwerido in the Vanguard of ThursdayFebruary 19 2015 on the unending controversy surrounding the Uvwiamughe Declaration (Delta: Where the UPU erred), I could not but conclude that the Delta State governorship race has inadvertently been reduced to a one-horse race, instead of the three-horse race it is expected to be.

The race to Unity House, Asaba, was projected by political analysts to be a tough contest given the calibre of the candidates of the three major political parties in the state. Flying the APC flag is Ortega Emerhor, a banker of repute and notable entrepreneur, while Great Ogboru, a dogged politician is running on the platform of the Labour party. Finally, you have PDP’s Ifeanyi Okowa, a popular grassroots mobiliser and distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Senator Okowa is largely perceived to be the front runner not only because of his towering political profile but also because Delta State has been a dominant PDP state since the current democratic dispensation began in 1999. However,pundits had predicted that the 2015 governorship in the state would not be a walk in the park for the PDP and Okowa, given the statures of Ogboru and Emerhor. Ogboru, in particular, was expected to provide a stiff challenge to Okowa taking into consideration his valiant efforts to unseat the incumbent governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, in two separate elections.

But as things currently stand, it does not look like either Ogboru or Emerhor have the vision or ideas to tackle the breadth and depth of challenges that confront Delta State and move it forward. Since their campaigns started, both candidates have been locked in a battle as to who is the authentic Urhobo candidate for the April 11 election – as if they are running for an Urhobo State. The case of Ogboru is particularly sad. Here is a man who truly gave Uduaghan a run for his money and, in two straight elections, won in Oshimili South where the state capital, Asaba, is located. But today, what do we have? Ogboru is desperate to be identified as the Urhobo candidate having been endorsed by the Joe Omene-led UrhoboProgress Union. Talk about falling from Olympian heights, and there you have it! Meanwhile, a faction of the UPU led by Tuesday Onoge has pitched its tent with Emerhor.

As a Deltan, not an Urhobo, who once saw in Ogboru a man with great leadership potentials for our beloved Delta State, you can imagine my disappointment. Meanwhile, as both candidates bicker over who is the genuine Urhobo candidate, neither has been able to articulate for Deltans his vision, ideas, and requisite experience to govern and change the state for the better. Beyond making general and nebulous promises of liberty, justice, and change, both Emerhor and Ogboru have not been able to tell us in concrete terms what plans they have for the economy, job creation, agriculture, and the industrialisation of the state. Even in Delta Central, the home of the Urhobos, the average person on the street knows about Okowa’s promise of Prosperity For All Deltans hinged on his S.M.A.R.T agenda.

It is as if Ogboru and Emerhor think the governorship is theirs for the taking once they get the support of their kinsmen through the UPU. To start with, to be elected governor, a candidate must win by a simple majority vote, in addition to winning in two-thirds of all the local governments. That means that the successful candidate must win in at least 16 out of the 25 local governments in the state. Currently, Delta North has nine local governments while Delta Central and South each has eight local governments. It is therefore self-evident that to be elected governor, a candidate must have a strong showing across the three senatorial districts and the various ethnic groups. Simply put, neither Ogboru nor Emerhor can become governor with the votes of the Urhobos alone. And going by the 2.2m registered number of votersin the state, Delta Central has 38%, Delta South 34% and Delta North 32%.

From the foregoing, it is surprising – and again disappointing – that Ogboru and Emerhor have paid little attention, if any, to Delta North in theirquest for Unity House. Meanwhile, Senator Okowa has continued to acquit himself as an astute politician by connecting with major stakeholders and the grassroots across the three senatorial districts. Like him or not, the distinguished senator has truly distinguished himself as a pan-Deltan and consensus builder. With every passing day, the man is gaining new followers all over the state with his political savvy, focus, and statesman like disposition.

As I listened to Senator Okowa’s speech at the Delta PDP fund raising dinner in Asaba, it was clear to me that the other candidates have missed their lines. “I am driven by my unshakable belief in a united and prosperous Delta state,”Okowa declared. “I am a Deltan at heart; and I believe any person aspiring to lead our people cannot, and should not, present himself as the candidate of a particular ethnic group. We must continue to build bridges of unity and love across one Delta.”

I would only add that if Ogboru and Emerhor insist on running as Urhobo candidates, they will do well to run for State House of Assembly, House of Reps, or even the Senate. The constitution has made ample provision for such parochial ambitions. But the office of the Governor has no room for ethnic champions.

Mr.Israel Akpojaro, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Warri, Delta State.