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Onowakpo’s Defection: The Imminent Death Knell Of PDP In Isoko Nation In Delta State

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Joel-Onowakpo Thomas

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have literally shot itself dead in Isoko Federal Constituency in Delta state when they lost their big influencer to the opposition party, All Progressive Congress (APC).

This are the views of Political watchers in the wake of the defection of Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, the former Delta State Board of Internal Revenue boss to the ruling party, APC.

Pundits say Onowakpo’s defection to the APC was a great loss and set-back to the PDP which had held sway in the Isoko Federal Constituency for past 16 years.

Onowakpo, who dumped the PDP, few days ago as reported by BigPen Online after resigning his membership of the party at his local Emede Ward 05 in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state, is a big fish to the APC.

His joining the party would only boost the chances of APC in winning all elective positions in the area and possibly the state at large.

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Political analysts say the political coalition that had propelled the PDP to the green chamber of the National Assembly for the past 16 years had a lot to do with the goodwill and influence of Onowakpo in Isoko Federal Constituency.

He was instrumental to the many wins of PDP Rep member, Hon Leo Ogor Okuweh, who is said to be nursing a come back in 2019 but seriously being resisted by the electorate including some of his family members who want him to leave and attend to his failing health now that the ovation is still loud.

But just when Isoko people thought Ogor’s 16 years foray in the National Assembly is coming to an end, he again threw his hat into the ring ostensibly because some people who are currently feeding fat from him had nudged him to become a ‘Mugabe’ believing that only in his fifth term could he consider himself a fulfilled lawmaker.

Mr. Onowakpo who would be Ogor’s main rival in the race was among the power brokers from Alliance for Democracy (AD) who gave PDP its hit win in the past 16 years. He was among those who chested out financially to ensure Ogor became a voice in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

Evidently, he was also said to have bought party form for the incumbent rep member at a time as was attested to by him (Ogor) sometimes ago – to tell how he had overwhelmingly supported and stood firm to ensure PDP stands tall in Isoko nation then.

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No wonder when he resigned from the party few days ago, many who were with him confessed in hushed tones that PDP has killed itself in the area with the litany of supporters and associates who are leaving with him to the APC.

Pundits however said that the subterranean crisis of confidence rocking the PDP did not start the day Onowakpo left, it started long before he took the decision to leave, a source from the area said.

According to the source, the failure of the party leadership at the state level to reconcile the covert infighting in the party resulting from the 2015 governorship election was a major factor that cannot be wished away in the defection spree that would hit the state chapter of the party.

But for Onowakpo, it was more for the interest of his Isoko people and his interest to contribute more with APC under Buhari. According to the grassroot politician, who appears to be enjoying mass support to contest the Isoko Federal Constituency Seat in the Federal House of Representative come 2019, his decision to leave the PDP was on personal grounds and above all the interest of the Isoko people.

BigPen Online had reported Joel Onowakpo as saying earlier; “I’ve taken this step after consultation with my family, friends, business and political associates. This step is for the interest of the entire Isoko people Viz-a-viz  my personal interest and in line with my ideology and philosophy which is firmly rooted on justice and fair play”

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Mr. Onowakpo, a protege of former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, was among the twelve named as state Coordinators of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), for Delta, Edo and Rivers States by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration in 2016.

By virtue of this appointment, his loyalty and allegiance should have long shifted to the APC-led government of Buhari but he had remained with the PDP until last Sunday when he kissed the party goodbye.

Onowakpo is the architect of sprawling Delta Board of Internal Revenue structures across the state. Sitting at the helm of affairs of the Board with the support of immediate past governor, he reshaped the internally generated revenue machineries in the state and oiled the IGR of the state.

However, watchers say for some unfathomed reasons, those who thought they were witch-hunting him booted him out of office but little did they knew they were doing him more good by increasing his popularity and pushing him out of his closet for a better federal engagement.

His personality has towered higher more than it was immediately he ceased to be in the management of the state revenue agency. He was spotted same way Uduaghan found him and he been doing good exploits with the federal government agency.

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This is one reason, pundits believe his coming into the Isoko Federal Constituency race which he had taken a shot at before under AD before joining force with Ogor to deliver PDP in the area, would change the narrative of politics in the area and serve as a turning point for many who also believe it was time for Ogor who is nursing a come back for the seat to reciprocate the support given to him.

Pioneering a grassroot educational after-school lecture series for students preparing for their university degree, Onowakpo became a darling of parents and guardians in Isoko. Many who normally could not have afforded lecture fees had their children prepared free of charge by  Ithihikpebe Campaign Organization floated by him. Many can attest to this singular gesture that he set upon himself even at a time he had never contemplated joining the race.

Bringing his wealth of experience in the business and public sector to bear, Onowakpo is set with his new found political ideology under the APC to negotiate and bargain everything that is due his people back home when elected come 2019.

But one thing that can be said to be his weak point however is that he loathes thuggery associated with elections in many part of the country. He would rather prefer free and fair contest to a “do or die” affair that has become a way of politics in the country but on that his goodwill and personality, analysts say will work and walk him to power come 2019.

 

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