Delta LGA Election: A Beggarly CUPP And Their Valueless Endorsements

By Bright Abanaba

One of the prime condiments of representative democracy is the heavy presence of a perceptible opposition. While the ruling government strives to give the people a better life, an active opposition remains an implacable agent of accountability and probity. But when supposed watchdogs become doyens of endorsement and mouthpieces of a privileged few rather than the larger society, one wonders the kind of alternative narratives such actions and practices can bring to the system.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) prides itself as a union of all other Political parties aside the ruling party. These are political parties formed with the aim of taking over government at all levels through peaceful and fair elections. The CUPP as a body ought to consist of men and women who are largely dissatisfied with the ruling party and are offering to be elected into government under their parties so as to provide a more purposeful and people-oriented leadership to the nation.

However, in Delta State, it is both safe and sad to state that CUPP is a façade of anything progressive. It is made up of a bunch of ravening hustlers and gourmands using the names of opposition political parties to barefacedly trade in hard currencies. In its recent letter to the State Governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the group after collecting dollars from the MD of one of the state government agencies went on an endorsement spree of some PDP chairmanship aspirants known to be financed by the MD in three local government areas. They are; Propser Edo (Isoko South), Frank Ozue (Isoko North) and Godbless Omoniye (Patani).

Granted that it is within the rights of anybody to aspire, but Deltans especially PDP members are finding it absolutely insulting that members of other political parties could be so audacious to instruct the Governor to give tickets of his party to some individuals base on their recommendation. More disrespectful is the fact that no genuine reason was cited for the endorsement other than perhaps the oil with which their palms were greased. The questions agitating the minds of many are;  What stops these busybodies from offering their party’s tickets to these preferred candidates of theirs in pursuit of their aspirations? Why drag the Governor into an election that is expected to be conducted by the political parties and then DSIEC? Are they suggesting that the Governor should impose these men on his party and then go ahead to impose them on the people of their respective local Governments? Apart from this cashed endorsement, has the CUPP ever appraised or critique any policy or programme of this government or provided an alternative to governance in the state as expected of a union of opposition parties of this nature? Is this not a clear indication that these lots are only out to do the bidding of their paymasters?

Let it be told to the hirelings in CUPP and their sponsoring “Bashorun” that the people of the mentioned local government areas will be the ones to decide who their chairmen would be. At least, democracy freely gave them the right to so do. The Governor been a democrat and a man who listens ,will never allow just one overambitious man to set these local governments and by extension the state on fire with his ego and inordinate ambition. The Governor as a thorough politician and a knowledgeable administrator understands perfectly well that the sponsor of the said publication is poised to cause incalculable problems for his administration and Deltans are  convinced that our own Ekwueme will never allow himself to fall into this ill-thought ditch.