BARELY two weeks of the launch of Great Ogboru’s campaign for change in Delta State, the  message of change has continued to gather momentum in and around the State. The crowd that greeted Great Ogboru, popularly known as the peoples general on arrival at the airport to kick starts his campaign for change at Warri was unprecedented.

Reminiscent of the days of Pa Awolowo, Zik of Africa among others, Ogboru, reeled out his message and strategy for change to the admiration of all. Deltans more than ever before, are ready with great expectation to effect the long awaited change, the kind of change that will liberate the people from the clutches of deceptive leaders, leaders whose stock in trade is to impoverish the people through fraudulent projects.

Like a whirlwind, the Change message as articulated by Ogboru and his campaign train is spreading like wildfire and burning up any form of disillusionment and restoring hope for a better Delta and winning disciples for change. It is incisive to note that even some PDP and other political party stalwarts in the State are already collapsing their campaign structure into Great Ogboru’s campaign train.

This has however, sent serious jittery down the opponent camps.

Before now some leaders saw little to worry about in their continued plundering and maladministration of Delta State .  The goodness however, is that wind of change sweeping through Nigeria , as witnessed in Edo , Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and now hovering round and caressing the face of Deltans is sure to land safely for a better Delta.

Going by Great Ogboru’s managerial ability and the burning desire to transform Delta into a modern hub in South South Nigeria, Deltans in their large numbers are on a daily basis aligning with his vision for Delta State . The Great Ogboru crusade for change in Delta has gone beyond party affinity, as evidence in the support and alignment with a better tomorrow.

Recognising that some of the past leaders failed to deliver on good governance, the people did not lose sight that one day an agent of change will emerge to restore Delta’s lost glory. Deltans are therefore united in this cause for change.

In the past years of misrule and political brigandage, Deltans groaned under deprivation of basic social amenities befitting of a people from frontline oil producing state. Like conquerors, corrupt politicians reigned supreme and the people lived on failed promises, with hope for salvation one day. These explained the euphoria, with which the news of the removal of Emmanuel Uduaghan by the Court of Appeal, was greeted by the majority of Deltans across the length and breadth of the state and even beyond,

As Change beckons, with Great Ogboru as the face of progressive change, Deltans have vowed not to lose this opportunity again, going by the thrust of Ogboru’s aspiration for the people, under his oriented programmes anchored on value orientation as enunciated.

Ogboru has declared that under his leadership, government will lead by example. “I will not steal so nobody working with me will steal. If anyone steals, such will be punished accordingly. We will have zero tolerance for corruption/criminality. We will not arm the youths, we will make people to obey the law. We will run a government that is different from the past when deprivation was used as genocide by installments”.

And to ensure positive development of the state starting from the grass root, the peoples general –Great Ogboru, said that his strategic programmes are built around decentralisation of resources to the 25 local government areas. “The people of those areas are to initiate and implement the projects that will meet their needs; this will create easy access to funds, investments, exchange of goods and opportunities for them to develop the people and the places”. A good integrationist approach no doubt, the supervision and monitoring of the local government council is a must, to ensure the delivery of his promise to Deltans.

On his allegiance to the people of Delta State , Great Ogboru has pledged as a true democrat, that he is bound to be loyal to the people of Delta State First irrespective of political leaning, religious tie or ethnicity.  To reinforce his commitment to Deltans and his sincerity of purpose to bring about the desired change to the people, he said, “Nothing will change me, not fame, not power, not wealth.

Nothing can change my desire to see our people change, it is far more important to me than any other thing. Our people are more important than they have been rated. I am unrepentant about changing the lives of Deltans”.
But beyond political rhetoric, Great Ogboru whose pedigree speaks volumes appears most suitable for the challenge of Delta State in post 2011.

As a man with no ethnic hegemony, with family ties spread across the three senatorial district of the State. God is again offering Delta State a fresh opportunity to decide their destiny.

Taking a critical analysis of Delta State political game vis a vis the past political players, Great Ogboru stand in pole position among the lots. With campaign based on issues and ideologies, Ogboru is set to practically transform Delta State for good.

Mr. Godfrey OSAKWE, a political analyst, writes from Asaba, Delta State.