Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has thrown his hat into the ring once more. After abandoning the Senate in 2015 for the exalted seat of Governor, and after eight years wielding executive authority in Delta State, he is now answering what he calls a “divine call” to return to the red chamber.
In his declaration speech, he rolled out the familiar menu of promises: renewed commitment, grassroots development, youth empowerment, massive infrastructure attraction, accountability, and improved welfare for Delta North.
With due respect, Your Excellency, the people of Anioma have heard this song before — and they are exhausted by the loop.
This is not personal. It is political reality. You served in the Senate previously. You left it. You governed for two full terms with far more power, resources, and influence than any senator could ever command.
You controlled budgets, contracts, appointments, and federal connections. If “inclusive representation” and “development” were truly your priority, why were they not delivered when you held the steering wheel of the state?
Why do communities across Ndokwa, Ika, Oshimili, and Aniocha still battle the same infrastructure deficits, youth unemployment, and marginalisation you now promise to tackle from the Senate?
The apology to Ned Nwoko was particularly revealing. You supported him in 2023, he won convincingly, and now you brand that support a “mistake.”
That was not humility — it was a candid admission that, for you, the Senate seat is merely a fallback option, a political retirement plan, or a springboard for future ambitions.
Delta North is not a revolving door for career politicians. It is not a consolation prize for someone who has already enjoyed the full banquet of executive power.
Ned Nwoko, by contrast, has treated the Senate with seriousness and purpose. He did not view it as a temporary stopover. From his first day, he has championed the Anioma agenda with clarity and consistency — vigorously pushing for a Federal University in Asaba, engaging national leadership, and representing the zone without the drama of musical chairs.
While others recycle old glory, Nwoko is quietly building a fresh record of service. He understands that the National Assembly is a platform for legislation, oversight, and strategic project attraction — not a stage for rehearsed apologies and familiar pledges.
Delta North must break this cycle in 2027. We cannot afford another “it is my turn” politics that rewards longevity over performance.
We cannot mortgage our future on nostalgia for a man who left the Senate once and now seeks to return as if nothing happened. The zone urgently needs fresh energy, sustained focus, and a senator who is already proving his worth rather than promising to rediscover it.
To the hardworking people of Delta North — market women, youths, farmers, professionals, and traditional institutions — this is your defining moment.
Reject the politics of recycling. Embrace the continuity of purposeful representation. Choose results over rhetoric. Choose Ned Nwoko.
The rear-view mirror is not the road ahead. Delta North deserves forward motion, not a tired political encore.
Ned Nwoko for Delta North Senate. The future is not behind us.
By Pamela O., Political Commentator and Columnist with Daily Buzz Wire Media.
