In view of the rotational approach of Delta politics by which the governorship seat is expected to return to Delta North in 2039, the people of Asaba have set machinery in motion to identify and groom young men or women that will aspire to occupy the position.
This was one of the issues discussed at a two-day global visual summit of the Asaba Development Union, ADU, (worldwide) which started on Saturday.
In his opening remarks, the President General of the union, Prof Epiphany Azinge, said Asaba people, with their sense of history and purpose, believed in the efficacy of planning on growth and development, hence the need to start the search for who would represent the community in the 2039 governorship race.
Prof Azinge stated that it would be foolhardy of Asaba people to fold their hands and wait until the year in question before thinking of what to do, noting that though many might not be alive by 2039, early planning would be in the interest of the younger generation and the community.
He described Engr Smart Meka, who was nominated for the conversation on ‘Grooming Viable Aspirants for the 2039 Gubernatorial Election’, as a relatively young man with a good understanding of the dynamics of political engagements, having been in the corridors of government either as an active participant or a grassroots politician.
In his submissions, Engr Smart Meka thanked Asaba Development Union (worldwide) for the privilege to speak on the topic, which he said was apt and thoughtful of the union, nay the community.
Engr Meka, a grassroots politician and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Project Monitoring, told the summit that governorship ambition was a long term project which required anyone eying the position to be prepared for selfless service from the very beginning.
He said whoever would be presented by Asaba for the 2039 governorship race would need to align with the system early enough for mentorship and should be seen to be a potential asset to the community and the system.
He explained that the would be individual should be loyal, disciplined and godly in thoughts, utterances and actions, adding that the person must have the requisite qualifications with unquestionable credentials, capacity, competence and courage to lead the people.
According to Meka, the community should support the potential aspirant to grow in the system, while promoting value reorientation among the Indigenes to encourage and appreciate upcoming leaders in the community and guard against the Pull Him Down syndrome.
Indigenes of Asaba from across the world, who joined in the visual conversation, corroborated the submissions of Engr Meka, regretting that the community had yet to take its rightful place in leadership at the state and national levels in the 23 years of Nigeria’s unbroken democracy.
They commended the Prof Azinge – led ADU (worldwide) for organizing the global visual summit to discuss the future of Asaba people and urged sons and daughters of the community to buy in the 2039 Delta governorship project and work towards its actualization.
The people suggested the setting up of a committee to midwife the agenda.
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