Oshiomhole, PDP leaders battle over NDDC board nominees

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and other political leaders from the state have taken their battle to position the next representative of the state on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to Abuja.

Oshiomhole is locked in battle with leaders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Edo State, who are also divided among themselves, over the three nominees that have been forwarded to the presidency for consideration.

PDP officials, it was learnt, are arguing that the position that had in the last two cases been conceded by the presidency to Governor Oshiomhole should this time be reverted to the party for the purpose of empowerment ahead of the 2016 gubernatorial election.

However, the PDP chieftains have not agreed among themselves on who should be nominated, leading to a brewing war of intrigues among senior officials of the party.

President Goodluck Jonathan had, until now, followed the tradition set by late President Umaru Yar‘Adua in conceding the nomination of NDDC representatives to state governors.

Precedent
In 2009, when Governor Oshiomhole nominated Mr. Jude Ide-Isehen, at that time a member of Edo State House of Assembly, he was stopped by Senator Ehigie Uzamare, PDP Edo South, despite the support that came the way of the nominee from the two other senators from the state, Senators Odion Ugbesia and Yisa Braimah.

Oshiomhole was, however, to have his way with the support of the same Senator Uzamere to put another nominee, Mr. Dan Omoriodon in that board.
Following President Jonathan’s dissolution of that board because of bickering among board members, Governor Oshiomhole also successfully pushed the appointment of Mr. Henry Okhuarobo to the present board.

In recompense, Oshiomhole helped Uzamere to return to the Senate, making Senator Uzamere the first Benin senator to win re-election.

However, PDP stakeholders from Edo State, it was learnt, have now impressed it on the President not to again concede the position to Oshiomhole, saying that the President has been empowering their political enemy.

With Oshiomhole allegedly yet to declare his support to President Jonathan’s 2015 presidential ambitions, there are suggestions that the president is inclining towards rebuffing Oshiomohole’s plea for a second term for Okharobo.

Likely candidate
Sources disclosed that PDP had forwarded three names for consideration. They are Levis Aigbogun, a former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly; Mr. Osahon Ahunwa, popularly known as Osahon Ugbesia, due to his close affinity to Senator Ugbesia.

The third is Mr. Chris Enekhirare, a close loyalist of Chief Dan Orbih, Chairman of the state chapter of PDP.
Ugbesia, it was learnt, is factoring the nomination of his man, Ahunwa, as the basis of his support for the alleged 2016 gubernatorial ambitions of the present Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen.

Mr. Aigbogun is on his part reportedly being pushed by the general sentiments of some party stakeholders, who are praising him for his loyalty to the party.

While the three contenders from PDP are jostling among themselves for consideration, the present representative, Okhua-robo is banking on the support from Governor Oshiomhole.

However, Oshiomhole’s latitude in the Senate, which had been through Senator Uzamere, it was learnt, has been curtailed due to what sources claim as the increasing gulf between Uzamere and the Edo State governor.

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