By: Tonesky Nesta
It is no longer news that former Delta StateCommissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Sisanmi Otumara who was initially tipped toChair Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, hasbeen re-nominated as commissioner designate, but Fresh Angle canauthoritatively report that the ex Commissioner was only informed 24 hoursbefore the list of commissioner nominees was made public.
Fresh Angle reliably gatheredthat the news of the decision to re-nominate him as Commissioner against hiswish was dropped Sunday June 26 in Abujawhen Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan invited him down for briefing. The shockinghint by the Governor to the ex Commissioner for Health took PDP loyalists inWarri by storm.
Fresh Angle scooped fromimpeccable sources that the Governor allegedly told the three time Warri Southlocal government Chairman to choose between returning as Commissioner orSpecial Adviser. Following Dr. Otumara’s re-nomination as Commissioner for arecord fifth time, there are strong indications that former political ally toChief James Ibori as well as ex Chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria,Dr. Alex Tosan Ideh may land the DESOPADEC plum job. A decision which many PDPfaithful particularly in Warri South local government are quick to dismiss withthe wave of the hand because they do not consider Dr. Ideh an insider despitehis recent reconciliation with the Governor after a long time of politicaldisagreement.
Meanwhile feelers reaching FreshAngle from Asaba indicates that the soon to be appointed Commissionersare to spend only two years in office after which Governor Uduaghan willappoint other party loyalists who feel aggrieved so as to give them sense ofbelonging.
A new dimension to the lobby forCommissionership slot was introduced prior to the appointment of the 21nominees when wives of some of those seeking appointment allegedly throngedhomes of some State legislators to woo their support. They were however told bysome of the legislators that nomination for the position of commissioners issolely the prerogative of the state governor.
As at the time of filing this report, thereis obvious disquiet in the state among politicians, particularly those whosehope of landing appointment were dashed with the release of list ofCommissioner Nominees and Special Advisers.