Delta Unity Group As An Emerging Third Force In Delta State Politics (OPINION)

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

The Delta Unity Group, DUG is here. It is not a new body. It has over the years, been quietly bestriding Delta’s political landscape for the good of the state. Call it a third force in the politics of Delta state and you won’t be wrong because from all ramifications, that is what DUG appears to be. DUG is by no means a political party. As the name implies, it is a Delta state based political pressure group formed a few years ago by some selfless, foresighted but influential Deltans to advance the cause of  unity and harmony in the state.

Looking at DUG’s present structure, followership and crucial grassroots mobilization prowess, it is obvious that just as an unchained torrent of water submerges a whole countryside the group has the formidable political and mobilization apparatus and strategy, potent enough to threaten the long-established political equations and dismantling political calculations.

DUG has become in the state, a factor that can no longer be ignored by any personality desirous of political relevance or seeks impact in future elective positions.

This could be gleaned from the mammoth crowd of members that joined Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Former/Pioneer President of GUD, and current Chairman, Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), on Friday December 13, 2024, when he played host, at his country home in Agbor, Delta state, to the state’s former Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and his entourage.

As expected, this development has elicited reactions from the general public. To some, DUG may not be an end to itself but definitely, a means to an end. Others succinctly submit that DUG has become so formidable in the state that it presently shares similar attributes with the once famous but now rested Mandate Group founded by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (current president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) in the build-up to the 1999 governorship race to advance his interest in the defunct Alliance for Democracy, AD, under which platform he later won the governorship of Lagos.

To the rest, DUG, as a Group has become not just a third force, but a reality that political personalities in the state can ignore at their own peril.

Indeed, while naysayers may undoubtedly find it convenient to argue, protest or better still dispute the above reality, even in the face of overwhelming signs, the truth as native wisdom proclaims, is that, ‘the protestation of the chick does not prevent or stall the sacrifice. If anything, the protestations enrich the sacrifice and hasten its value and efficacy”.

For the sake of clarity, let me state here that the purpose of this piece is not to promote the activities of the group but primarily to provide answer to what set the stage for the group’s emergence, the factors that prompted its widespread acceptance in the three senatorial districts of the state as well as ascertain why it was easy for the movement to seamlessly spread out its wings across the state.

Yes! This piece can conveniently underline that the common denominator responsible for the DUG’s optimum growth is attributable to its efficient and effective leadership. This has also been the position of great analysts within and outside the state who believe that what is happening at DUG is a function of strategic leadership.

For example, Ebie is not just a lawyer but a seasoned technocrat who represents transformative leadership for the Niger Delta Region.

His vast experience and innate capabilities make him well-equipped to combat the enormous challenges ahead and leave a monumental impact on the development of the Niger Delta Region.

He was born into the family of Professor John C. Ebie, a respected psychiatrist, academic, and pioneer Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). This rich pedigree is the foundation of his illustrious career, propelling him to amass over three decades of varied experiences from the private and public sectors. With an undergraduate degree in law from the University of Benin, a certificate of call to the Bar from Nigerian Law School, and a postgraduate diploma from the University of London, his academic credentials are just as impressive.

His journey as a corporate and commercial lawyer saw him offering advisory and transactional services to diverse multi-industry clients. Delving into the intricate world of startups, specifically in the oil and gas sector, he managed an indigenous upstream company operating in the Niger Delta.

As a man of results, his tenure in the public sector was marked by efficiency and the breaking down of bureaucratic barriers. He introduced and implemented government policies through processes that translated into a seamless, result-oriented working environment. Before long, recognition came in droves for him, particularly by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who lauded him as his most outstanding appointee during the third anniversary of his first tenure when he served as Commissioner for Education (Basic & Secondary). This accolade culminated in a higher responsibility as he became the Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG) during Okowa’s second term.

In this dynamic political environment, his calm demeanor, humility, and strategic insight became a source of guidance and stability, further solidifying his reputation as an invaluable asset to Delta State.

Okowa had reportedly said of him thus: “Mr Ebie is a fine gentleman who served meritoriously as Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in the first tenure of his administration. His civility, analytical intelligence, communication skills, and diligence are essential qualities needed for the office of the SSG. In addition to these, modern statecraft, with all its complexities and challenges, requires team players, proactive leaders, and men with a large appetite for work. Mr Ebie meets these criteria, and I am convinced that he is well equipped to enrich the social, political, and economic narrative of our dear state”.

Ebie stands out as a vivid patch in the vast tapestry of Nigerian governance and development. His humility, unwavering commitment to knowledge, due process, and teamwork places him at the forefront of driving change and making pivotal decisions.

Truly, his vision and charismatic leadership prowess to a very large extent improves and changes the outlook of DUG, built trust and confidence among members.

In like manner, In December 2023, following his appointment as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Clement Ofuani, another seasoned professional, technocrat and Delta state  Former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning  emerged as the new National Chairman of Delta Unity Group, DUG.

He was elected at an enlarged meeting of the DUG, which was held at the Agbor, Delta state country home of the current Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Chiedu Ebie.

Chief Ofuani, in a brief remark, after his election, said he will at all times work diligently to sustain the driving principles of DUG which was anchored on modernising Delta State.

He said: “We are very clear that our desire, which is our mantra, remains modernising Delta together. That’s what binds us. Whatever dictates legitimately and morally and ethically sound to modernise Delta together, we will join hands with such people and partner with them to achieve that objective.

“We are grateful as an association and organisation, that despite all the challenges we faced in the course of the 2023 electoral circle many of us are still standing strong, where they had expected us to be bowed, where they had expected us with the lashes on our backs, to have our heads bloodied, we remained unbowed, we remained faithful and committed to the driving principles of developing Delta. Despite individual differences, we will continue to be together because we have a common objective which binds us into a knot”.

For me, what the above tells us is that there is hope for Delta state under this emerging third force.

Utomi, a Media Specialist Writes From Lagos, Nigeria. He could be reached via: Jeromeutomi@yahoo.com or 08032725374