Why Uduaghan, Orubebe’s “romance” will collapse – Fresh Angle

Anyone who has followed the intriguing politics of Delta State since 1999 will agree that the recent “romance” between Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe who is believed to be acting the script of Ijaw National leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark may have collapsed at its infancy.

The political romance of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Elder Godsday Orubebe which came to the fore during the just concluded Delta State “PDP Congress” is already generating heated controversy and media vituperations.

As it stands, only the positions of state Chairman and Secretary of the PDP which both factions i.e. Uduaghan and Clark belongs, have been made public, while those of Vice Chairmen of the three senatorial districts as well as ward and local government executives are still shrouded in secrecy despite claims of congress being concluded. Fresh Angle can report that statements credited to Itsekiri born businessman and avid loyalist of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, Mr. Ayirimi Emami in the Vanguard Newspaper of Thursday March 22 is a candid reflection of the thoughts of thousands of Ibori/Uduaghan family members spread across Delta State.

Mr. Emami, a PDP Chieftain who is known for his blunt views was quoted to have said that any reconciliation that does not include Ibori’s freedom and involvement, as father of PDP in the state is only temporary and not genuine.

The PDP Chieftain also noted that arms in the hands of some hoodlums who he alleged are being sponsored by some aggrieved members on the other side of the divide willhave to be retrieved, while loyalists of Chief E.K. Clark and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan will have to be carried along in the reconciliation process.

Fresh Angle investigations reveal that the position of Mr. Ayirimi Emami perfectly describes the feeling of members of the Ibori family, which Governor Uduaghan presently controls, though not without murmurings by Ibori loyalists who see the Uduaghan administration as being too conservative and not doing enough in terms of performance to boost the party’s fortune in future elections. While there are wagging tongues amongst members of the Ibori political family on moves by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to reconcile with Chief Edwin Clark faction, being piloted by Elder Godsday Orubebe, the story is not any different in the camp of Ijaw National leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

Already prominent Urhobo members of the Clark faction like former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, Chief Ogbetuo and Clark’s Media Aide, Prince Apugo have accused Elder Godsday Orubebe of selfishly hijacking the reconciliation process with Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan by selecting those loyal to him in the scheme of things and leaving out others who have over the year’s been in the struggle with the Ijaw National Leader. They have even gone ahead to insinuate that Elder Orubebe is promoting his gubernatorial ambition in 2015despite indications that the Anioma axis is saddled with that responsibility.

Feelers reaching Fresh Angle however reveal that contrary to wide reports, Elder Godsday Orubebe who hardly does anything without the consent of Presiden tGoodluck Jonathan and Chief Edwin Clark is actually working towards Chief Godswill Obielum 2015 governorship project. And if the political permutations of the Ibori political dynasty come 2015 is anything to take seriously, then the strange reconciliation process between Dr. Uduaghan and Chief Clark will hit the rock soon, since Senator Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa remains the anointed candidate for Delta government house come 2015 as far as the Ibori/Uduaghan political fold is concerned. The silence of Chief Clark on the activities of Elder Orubebe despite all the accusations against the Minister as well as theobvious lack of readiness of Uduaghan loyalists to work with members of the Clark faction at the local government and ward levels are clear pointer to the deepening crisis Delta PDP will soon be plunged into against the surface reconciliation.

By: Tonebsky Nesta

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