By GbaramatuVoice Editorial Board
A peep into the nation’s political horizon, will but reveal that the preparation for the 2019 general election is in a top gear and only the strong hearted will be able to wade through and come successfully.
As in war, those who want to emerge as candidates for the various political positions in Delta state knows that anyone that arrives first is at ease while the late arrivers labor. And for this reason, they have started to scheme, manoeuver and outsmart other contenders.
But nowhere is the scheme so intense than In Warri South West Local Government Area where about four illustrious sons from the constituency have at different times and places indicated interest to represent the constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly with majority of the candidates angling to achieve their ambition on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Candidates in the likes of Chief Favour Izoukumor, Commissioner representing Ijaw ethnic nationality in the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC); Comrade Sheriff Mulade, an environmental activist and General Secretary in Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF); Mr. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, Personal Assistant to the Deputy Governor of Delta state; and Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, media consultant to High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, have since indicated interest while others are still expected.
To us at GbaramatuVoice, this state of affairs is viewed as a welcome development as it exemplifies the beauty of democracy which provides Nigerians with the opportunities to ventilate their intentions.
However, the Newspaper is equally worried looking at past experience that if the situation is not properly managed, judging from cluster and jostle for a particular position by many candidates on a particular platform, may lead to hostility among the contenders and their supporters and through that process, heat up the polity.
Such fears to us cannot be regarded as unfounded as the recent events that took place in various states during the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward and local government congress with Ekiti state being the worst hit.
Against this backdrop, it is our view that these candidates jostling to represent Warri South West Local Government Area should approach the contest with brotherly love garnished with the spirit of sportsmanship and never for any reason view the contest as a do or die affair.
In the same vein, the Newspaper is aware that virtually all those that have indicated interest to represent Warri South West are not just gentle but successful men in their various fields of endeavors. Despite this reality, it will not in any appreciable way erase the fact that it’s one out of the teeming numbers that will be in the House.
In our views, therefore, it will be imperative and reassuring for these candidates to start thinking about having a consensus candidate among them that they can support for the common good of the people of Warri South West Local Government Area.
Also, GbaramatuVoice have observed with regrets that in most cases, troublemaking may not be in the character of the candidates, but their supporters/foot soldiers go about fermenting problems which will consequently rob on the candidates’ hard earned reputation.
In our opinion, therefore, it will be politically helpful if these contenders can at all times call their followers/supporters to order.
In a similar reasoning, the leadership of the parties should also in their effort to see to the emergence of their standard bearer make every effort to be transparent, honest and above board as such irregularity as witnessed in the past propelled the mayhem that erupted after such electoral exercise.
Again, as part of the strategies to tackle the perennial political violence that follows every political contest, the traditional rulers should have a key role of reorientation of the subjects on the need not to be involved in political hooliganism.
Most instructive is the fact that, youths, not just in local government but the nation as a whole, remains the greatest impediment to having peaceful elections in the country as the vast majority of them easily become willing tools for the politicians over pecuniary benefits.
It will, therefore, be a heartening development to see the youths of Warri South West Local Government Area approach the election of their representative with a new vision that will throw up the best candidate based on qualification and pedigree as against the highest bidder as witnessed in time past.
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