KWEKE AGAIN IN DELTA STATE

"KWEKE" AGAIN IN DELTA STATE: Towards “you dey look am e dey go”

After writing my second to the last published articles in the website of the nigeriaworld.com. I received a lot of congratulatory messages from people, giving me kudos over the use of the local language – “kweke”, to draw conclusion of what is happening in our society today.

Now all the elections except the one(s) of the Local government offices (chairmen and councillors) have been conducted by INEC. As usual, those who won are singing and chanting “Alleluia” over their victory, though there were a lot of irregularities during the election, which eventually led to their victory. On the other hand, those who lost are crying, and even planning to have a “losing dinner party” to get their money back. But God knows that some of the losers actually won the election.

In this article, my focus will be on Delta State. Prior to the gubernatorial election, there were sayings in the State (Delta) which read “Minus your vote is times or plus your vote for the PDP,” and “you dey look am e dey go.” I came to understand the saying when people began complaining about the irregularities in Delta polls without much consternation. This was sequel to their awareness of the real meaning of the above saying “minus your vote is times or plus your vote”; “you dey look am e dey go.” Behold, I am not writing this article in favour or against any political party. I am not in any partisan party. I vote for individuals not parties. And many Deltans are well known for this, especially during the last elections because, they voted for individuals.

That was why Great Ogboru declared himself as the Governor elect. In fact, he really won the election, according to the confirmations of eyewitnesses of many polling stations where the ‘votes’ were counted instantly at the end of the exercise that day. Even though, it was allegedly given to Ibori by his “thugs”. Thank God that one of them was reportedly killed in Agbarho in Delta State on that very day of election (Presidential & Governorship elections). And now the wrath of God has started reacting on them. During the last election, which took place on the 3rd of May, the policemen in Owhe-logbo near Ozoro in Delta State also reportedly killed one of the political thugs called Mr. Clever Ofuafo.

After much prayer about the clamouring of the “kweke” in Delta State, it is still a shameful thing that the “kweke” is still sounding all over the State. How long should we cry before the Federal Government will come to the aid of Deltans? It is time now to do the proper thing at the right time. Deltans are now reacting over the Governorship election of the State, because, for the last four years (according to some people who lamentably voiced out their opinions) they have passed through “Purgatory”, and if they allow Ibori to come back, which means, for the next four years, they are going to pass through “HELL”. But with them I say: God forbid!

If the INEC officials are really serious, let them go to Delta State and interview some people in the State, they (the INEC officials) will realise that there were a lot of irregularities over the elections conducted on the 19th of April. By this I mean the one of the Governorship seat. For the Presidential seat, there is no doubt that Baba Obasanjo won the State with about 70% of the total vote cast. But the one of the Governorship seat, there is also no doubt that Great Ogboru won the State with about 80% of the total vote cast. I think the Governor (Ibori) has a question to answer about the political thugs who were going round chanting over the State “PDP! Share the money” and “share the money! PDP”, and at the end they ran away with most of the ballot boxes. Not only that, they went to INEC office to force the chairman to declare Ibori as the winner. It was due to these irregularities that few people came out to vote during the last State Assembly elections.

Now that Delta State is pregnant, and the “Midwife” has confirmed that the State is going to deliver on the 29th of May, I am appealing to the Federal Government to come and help the “midwife” to assist Delta State to deliver her new baby safely. You may not understand what I mean by the word “pregnancy”, but what I simply mean is that many people are crying over the Democracy day (May 29th) that Ibori cannot come back again to rule them, that the INEC should review the Governorship election to let the person who it to rule them (Deltans). If not, according to the voice of Deltans, the “kweke” will continue to sound in the State until it gets to the Federal House.

Though, I am not praying for such to happen in my lovely State. In order for the “kweke” to be totally wiped out in Delta State, and for peace to come back to the State, let the INEC in collaboration with the Federal Government, re-visit the State’s gubernatorial election problem and set up an interim government, and conduct another election for the post/office of the State Governor. If not, for the next four years, Delta State will turn to be the most corrupt State in the world, which we are not praying for. May God deliver our lovely State from the hands of the “evil ones” – AMEN. Peace to our father’s land.

May 2003