By Deborah Coker
An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain in Delta North, Simon Onuka, has faulted the purported backing of former Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for Senate in the 2027 general elections.
This is contained in a statement by Onuka himself and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
He said that the recent media publication entitled: “Okowa receives royal fathers’ backing for Delta North Senate” had generated public interest and debate across the senatorial district.
According to him, while every citizen, including traditional rulers, are entitled to personal political preferences, the public endorsement of a partisan candidate by custodians of the traditional institution raises important questions about constitutional democracy, neutrality and accountability.
Aside occupying revered positions in the Nigerian society, Onuka described traditional rulers as custodians of culture, guardians of communal values, symbols of unity and fathers to all their subjects, regardless of their political affiliations.
“Their influence derives not from electoral mandates but from the respect accorded to their offices by the people.
“For this reason, traditional institutions are generally expected to maintain political neutrality, serving as stabilising forces above partisan politics.
“When royal fathers openly endorse a particular candidate, especially before and during the commencement of a formal electoral contest, they risk creating the impression that the traditional institution has become aligned with a political interest.
“Such actions may alienate sections of their communities which hold differing political views and may ultimately diminish the moral authority of the traditional institution,” argued.
The APC chieftain added that in a constitutional democracy, traditional rulers were most effective when they serve as impartial custodians of the collective interests of their people rather than participants in partisan political contests.
He noted that the choice of the Obi of Owa palace as the venue for the purported endorsement had also attracted public attention.
Onuka said that this was particularly significant because one of the major criticisms of Okowa’s eight-year administration as governor of Delta was the perceived concentration of government projects and development efforts within Owa communities at the detriment of other parts of Delta North.
“Beyond the question of performance, many stakeholders across Delta North are increasingly expressing concern about the apparent concentration of political power within a single family and clan structure.
“At a time when Delta North is blessed with numerous competent sons and daughters from diverse communities, questions are being asked about a political arrangement in which Dr Ifeanyi Okowa seeks a return to the Senate, and his daughter for Delta House of Assembly.
“To many observers, this raises legitimate concerns about political inclusion, fairness, and the need to broaden opportunities for leadership across the district.
“Democracy flourishes when leadership opportunities are open to all and when political offices are not perceived as the preserve of a few individuals, families or communities.
“After eight years of occupying the most powerful political office in Delta, many citizens believe that the priority should be mentoring a new generation of leaders and promoting equitable representation across the various communities that make up Delta North.
“The growing perception among many residents is that the current political project is less about advancing the collective interests of Delta North and more about preserving political influence within a narrow circle of family and clan associates.
“Whether this perception is accurate or not, it is one that cannot be ignored and deserves serious reflection by both political leaders and traditional institutions,” he said.
Onuka further stated that the people of the senatorial district must be allowed to decide whether the future they desire is one built on broad-based participation, equal opportunity and inclusive development or one in which political power continues to revolve around a limited group of individuals.
“The true test of leadership is not how much power one can accumulate for oneself, one’s family or one’s clan but how widely one can spread opportunity, development and hope across the entire constituency,” he added.
NAN