Olorogun Fred Majemite is a chieftain and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State. He is a two-time Commissioner in the State and presently, a staunch member of the Urhobo-based DC-23 group that is working hard to ensure the next governor of the State emerges from Delta Central in line with the governorship rotation agreement in the PDP. A philanthropist par excellence, the legal luminary-cum-politician has been a committed and dedicated member of the PDP from 1999 till date. In this interview, the Ughelli North-born PDP stalwart, among other issues, declared his intention to run for the governorship of Delta State, come 2023. He restates the need for the continuation of the governorship rotation among the three Senatorial districts in the State, stating that it has engendered peace across the State.
Excerpts
It has been in the rumour mill that you are interested in running for the governorship of Delta State in 2023. But you did not stand up to be counted among those who indicated interest for the race when the call was made at the DC-23 meeting in Asaba which you attended. Can you confirm whether or not you are aspiring to contest for the governorship of the State in 2023?
Yes, it is true that I have indicated my interest to run for the governorship of Delta State, come 2023. If you look at my antecedent, you will know that I have worked for the party and have remained loyal and very steadfast. I have never jumped at any time. I have attempted the Senate twice but due to the differences within the party and the leadership of the party, I withdrew unconditionally. However, I supported those who were privileged to run in my stead. This time around, we believe that the governorship is coming to Delta Central. And by the grace of God, we have a small lobby group, because if you look at our constitution everybody is qualified to run for the governorship so long as you are of age and, of course, you meet the requirements, whether you are from Delta Central, Delta South or Delta North.
In fact, it is only the governor, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa that is not qualified to run again for the governorship from Delta North, otherwise anybody whether you are from Delta North or Delta South you are qualified to run as long as you meet the criteria. What we are saying is that the understanding we have that the governorship should be rotated from one Senatorial District to another should be adhered to so that it can bring sanity to our State and also, for us to continue to enjoy peace as we are enjoying at the moment. So, that is why we are begging the other Senatorial Districts that they should support us as it is coming to us now. After eight years it will go to the South again before North.
For now, what we are doing is not to heat up the body polity but to embark on consultations. Let your leaders know of your interest, let them assess you and if you now put yourself on a scale and you find out that you weigh well, you can now declare formally. So, what we are doing now is just consultation and we also using this opportunity to tell our brothers in Delta South and Delta North Senatorial districts that they should join forces with Delta Central to get the governorship come 2023 and after eight years it will go to the next Senatorial district. As for DC23, it is just to let others know that they should support Delta Central for 2023.
You just mentioned that there was an understanding among the senatorial districts. A few months ago, Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was quoted as saying that there was no agreement for senatorial zoning of governorship in the State. This has generated a lot of controversy. As you embark on your wide consultation, what is the perception of those you visited in other senatorial districts on this issue of zoning?
Like I said earlier on, there was no written paper or agreement and that was why I used the word, understanding. You will recall that, during the administration of His Excellency, Chief James Ibori, there were different groups outside Delta Central such as Equity, G3 and so on. All those were lobby groups set up to ensure that this thing moved from Delta Central to other Senatorial districts. And of course, it did move. And that does not mean other people did not contest. And because we said it should move, the candidate from that senatorial district was voted for. I was one of those people that said it should go to the South. Then again, after the administration of His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan administration, there was also agitation that the governorship should move from the South to the North. And I was one of those who said that it should go to the North. Somebody from Delta Central actually contested but we voted for the candidate from the North.
So, this time around now it is the turn of Central as far as I’m concerned. I’m not saying that other people should not contest because they have the constutional right to contest. But if we say it should go to Central again, when Delta Central aspirants come out, I’m sure the leadership of the party and well-meaning Deltans will vote for the aspirants from Central. By the time it goes round again, we would have been well grounded. So, all this talk that the governor said there is no rotation or there is rotation, I believe that His Excellency, the governor is a bottom-up man. You can take everything from His Excellency, Okowa, but not politics. And I know that His Excellency, the governor, will not make the mistakes of his predecessor because, whether you like it or not, he is one man who understands Delta politics. He is one man that, if he gives you his word, he will try to keep those words. Maybe that is why they call him ‘Ekwueme’. Some have over-blown what he said. But if you recall, in one of those campaigns, he had made it clear on one or two occasions that the governorship is coming to Central.
So, I believe that come 2023, the governor will come from Central and we are going round now, lobbying leaders from other senatorial districts for their support for Delta Central. So far, all the people we have visited, have not given us room to believe there will be problem. So, I believe there will be no problem.
As a follow up sir, let us assume that in line the with existing understanding you alluded to, the PDP eventually zone the governorship to Delta Central, would you also accept that the governorship should be zoned according to the three federal constituencies in the Delta Central? And if it so, which federal constituency, in the order of rotation, would you support to produce the governor in the 2023 election?
The one we are concerned about now is that the governor should come to Delta Central. We have eight local government areas in Delta Central. The govenorship can come from anywhere in Delta Central as far as we are concerned. That is the wish and dream of DC23. The idea of saying which area it should come from is further polarizing the system. Let us not go into those one because we believe that anybody from Delta Central who is qualified, can contest the election. It is now left for the people to pick whoever they want from Delta Central. We will not discriminate against anybody. We are all from Delta Central as far as we are concerned. We are not going to concern ourselves with which federal constituency the governor is coming from in Delta Central. What we are concerning ourselves with now is how the governorship will come to Delta Central. Whether he is from Ughelli axis, Okpe axis or Ethiope axis, as far as he is from Delta Central, we are okay.
So, we are saying that the issue of governor should not be brought to that low level. Let us face the issue of the governor coming to Delta Central. The governor is going to be governor of the whole of Delta State and not of one constituency. So, if we have agreed it should come from one senatorial district, we should not lower it to say it must come from one constituency or not. I think that Delta Central is what we should concern ourselves with. We should not lower it again to say it should come from A or from B. That is my take on it.
You are very passionate about the things of Urhobo. How would you deal with the issue of Urhobo unity as far as the 2023 governorship election is concerned?
When we started the lobbying by DC23. we first of all, visited the Urhobo kings in all the kingdoms. And we told them of the need for them to support an Urhobo son to be governor. We also told them that there is the need to work together as a team and that there should be no division among the Urhobos at all. This is because, a house that is divided cannot stand at all. And unless we are cohesive as a body, we may not be able to get the kind of development we wish for our people. First of all, that our Urhobo national anthem, ‘Urhobo Ovuovo’, should always be at the back of our mind. Once we do that, you will see everybody as your brother’s keeper, you will see somebody from Oghara as your brother, you will see somebody from Ughweru as your brother and you will see somebody from Okpe as your brother. What touches one, touches all. And by the grace of God, any governor that will be produced from Delta Central come 2023, we know that if he concentrates development only his village, then he has not developed the Senatorial district. So, you should ensure that every kingdom is carried along without shortchanging other Local Government Areas in the State.
A few days ago, the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, was passed into law by the National Assembly with an allocation of 3% provided for by the Senate and 5% by the House of Representatives for the funding of the Host Communities. There have been dissenting voices, especially from the Niger Delta that the percentage allocated to the region is grossly insufficient. What is your take on that?
First of all, I’m happy that the PIB has been passed. You will recall that this bill has been there for donkey years, from one legislative year to another, nothing was done. So, I’m happy that, finally, the Petroleum Industry Bill has been passed. You see, we can never get enough if you look at the problem in the Niger Delta. If they say they will give us 50%, it will not even be enough. The Niger Delta is grossly under-developed. I don’t know if you have had the opportunity to visit the creeks, you will be amazed. Not only the creeks, even the upland. You go to my mother’s village somewhere there you will be surprised to know it is an oil-producing community. Even, Afiesere here you will be surprised, what of Kokori? These are upland, not talk of the creeks. And that is why I said we cannot get enough. But I’m happy that we are starting from somewhere.
Three percent is small. We were thinking that we should not get anything less than 10%, so that if you add the 13% derivation, it will make some sense. Or, if it is 5%, then when you add the 13%, it will be 17%. Three percent is small. But again, we are starting from somewhere. And I also want us to know that the host communities are not only in the Niger Delta. That is what I want our brothers to know, our brothers from outside the region. This is because there is hardly any state that does not have any mineral resources. See what is happening in Zamfara, all those illegal mining of gold and gemstones everywhere. There are some countries, their income alone is coming from such solid mineral resources. Take for instance, South and Ghana. Until most recently when Ghana discovered oil, both countries income have been dependent on gold. So, by the time we raise the stake, it will make every State to look inward for what they have: is it bitumen, gemstone, so that they can begin to tap it.
The oil someday will run dry. If it does not run dry, there might be a shift. You saw what happened in America when it shifted to Shale oil. See how it had an impact on our oil production. In fact, it got to a stage we were even selling below cost of production. We were virtually begging people to come and evacuate our oil. Now the price is up and this is the best time to take advantage of it and begin a massive development of the Niger Delta. That is our prayer. That is our concern. We encourage diversification for everybody. Oil is not stable any longer. Some people are saying that in 20 years from now oil will no longer be useful. But we thank God that gas will still be there.
What is your confidence in the DC23 pressure group that it will be able to manage and come up with a candidate that will be the flag-bearer of the PDP come 2023 especially against the backdrop of the rumour that the group is being sponsored by one of the aspirants?
First of all, I’m a pioneer member of that group and also an aspirant. I’m not sponsoring the DC23. I’m also aware that nobody is sponsoring the group. At our inaugural meeting, nearly all of us who have indicated interest to run were in that meeting. I think about six of us were present in that meeting. And so, I was surprised when I heard that the meeting was called at the instance of one us. I laughed because at that meeting some very serious persons who, most times, were not working together politically were there. Chief Ighoyota Amori was the convener. Another leader at the meeting was Prof. Sam Oyovbaire. These are people who, naturally, disagree on most political issues. So, who is the aspirant sponsoring the meeting now? I believe the meeting was called for us to beg our brothers from other Senatorial districts to allow a candidate from Central to be the flagbearer of the PDP. That is the whole essence of the meeting. And that only affects the guber race. Nobody will mention his Senatorial, House of Representatives or House of Assembly ambition there, No!
And we also know that there is nothing we will do that will put pressure on the present government. When we talk about Delta Central producing one candidate, you and I know that it has never happened in any Senatorial district before. But I know that as we get closer to 2023, some people will change their minds because good reasons give way to better ones. For me, as I told you, if you recall, 2003 and 2011, if somebody had told me that I’ll not be a Senator, I would say it is not true. This is because in 2003 when I was running, I was as good as endorsed. In fact, people were already congratulating me. And because of what happened later, some of our leaders even left the party. When at the eleventh hour, I was sacrified that it should be Felix Ibru, I did not object. Instead, I withdrew from the contest and even gave the candidate then, Felix Ibru, money for his campaign. I supported his campaigns then with money. In 2011, I was asked to go into the race. I was called upon by the power that be that, Fred, come and complete the tenure since our brother, Senator Pius Ewherido, passed on. They said somebody from his federal constituency should complete the tenure and I was called upon. And they gave away that chance again. But all that is history now.
Some of us have made a lot of sacrifices. So, I beliieve that, if not for anything, they should also consider my antecedent and how loyal I have been and let it go. So, nobody will tell you that he sponsoring the DC23. That is not true.
Four years down, two more to go in Gov. Okowa’s administration. How would you assess his performance so far? Also, it is obvious that as a committted and loyal member of the party, you have been doing your best. But we can observe that in the past six years or so, you have not been rewarded with any political position. Is it that the governor is not appreciating your contribution or has it anything to do with your support for late Tony Obuh who was to challenge the govenror in 2015 election?
You see, Okowa is one man who prayed to be governor, he is one man who worked to be governor and he got the governorship. If you recall, in 2007, if you look at the manifestoes of all the governorship aspirants then, you will agree with me that Okowa was one person who understood Delta State very well. He didn’t just wake up to say he wants to be governor, he has been preparing himself for the governorship. That was why when he became the governor, he hit the ground running. He tried to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors. Okowa never let any project that was started by his predecessors abandoned. He is trying to complete all the projects that were started by his predecessor that he couldn’t finish. He is finishing them while also still building others. That is the beauty of continuity. Okowa has consolidated on the achievement of his predecessors and has also come up with fresh initiatives to the extent that it is now difficult to say who between him and his predecessors has achieved more.
One of the greatest achievements of Gov. Okowa, if you ask me, is how he has succeeded to manage the peace we have in Delta State. You may not realize it, but once there is crisis, it will be difficult for any meaningful development. Okowa has impacted more on the lives and the development of our brothers in the creeks. I was in Gbaramatu the other day, you will notice the network of roads in the area, some of them made of stone pavement. We all know how much it takes to build roads in those areas. And so, there are others he has done. I’m not his Commissioner for Information, but if you ask me how much he has done, I will tell you that he has done more than average by my assessment. But it is not yet Uhuru!
As for me, at the time I came into partisan politics, I can say that God has already blessed me and I don’t do anything above myself. That is why you see me, I don’t compete with anybody. Yes, I’ve had the privilege of holding certain positions in government. Like I said in the introduction, I have been a Commissioner twice, I have been a Special Adviser and also a Political Adviser. And at the party level, I have also held several positions. As for this present administration, yes, I have not held any political appointment. That is because at the level some of us are now, we can serve at any capacity but it is good we should serve in an area where we can function properly, not just to accept any appointment. Other than the position of SSG, I think there is anything still new for me again.
I have a very strong relationship with the governor. And so, even though I’m not holding any political office, there is nothing the governor will not oblige me if I ask. So, if I say I need anything from the system, be it contract or so, the governor will oblige me.
You talked about how you stepped down for some persons when you aspired to be Senator sometime ago. As you are now indicating interest in the governorship, if the call comes now for you to stepdown for someone else, how would you take it?
I have conceded, I have withdrawn, not once, not twice. So, this time around now, I should also be considered. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Our people know that Fred Majemite has made a lot of sacrifices and I doubt, if this time around, they will ask me to withdraw again. And if I say I won’t withdraw again, nobody will say I have done badly. I’m not going into the race, maybe, to negotiate. No! When I withdrew the first time, Ibori did not give me any political appointment. And like I said, when I withdrew, I never negotiated. Instead, I contributed to the elections of others. So, as I’m going to run now, I’m not going to use it as a platform to negotiate. I’m running, I’m running.
But again, I have the interest of the party and our people at heart. I’m only going there to serve. If the people don’t want me to serve, let them show it at the polls. And if the party does not want me to be the flagbearer, let them show it at the primary. But I know it will not come to that. It is not our will, but let God’s will prevail.
Finally, with the 2023 approaching, the two ex-governors – Ibori and Uduaghan and the incumbent governor, Okowa, each of them may have an aspirant of their choice. Won’t this division create problem for the PDP? Also, what is your position on how NDDC has been run since the Buhari administration?
The three governors, may have interest in different aspirants. You can’t rule that out because we are all humans. You should also know that the situation is very fluid in the sense that it will get to a point that they will all sit down. Thank God that the immediate past governor who went to another party has come back. PDP remains one big family. Apart from Peter Nwaoboshi who stepped out, the rest members of the caucus are still there. They will meet, they will agree. It is horse-trading, it is give and take. They will have concensus candidate, I can tell you that. This is because they know that once they are divided it will cause the party a lot. And they don’t want the party to lose the State. That is why I said that what we are enjoying now is the continuity.
When Uduaghan came in, he did not abandon the project which Ibori left behind. He completed some of them, though not all of them. Then when Okowa came in, he is completing all the projects Uduaghan could not finish, even though he is building new ones. Work in this Ughelli-Asaba axial road, for instance, has not been stopped for one day. You can imagine the cost. Even the Asaba airport and some others like that. So, Okowa will also support the aspirant that will continue in their stead. And so, if they disagree, it will cost the party, and they would not want that. That is why I said that a time is coming when the three of them will sit down and they will agree. I can assure you that.
On the NDDC, it’s unfortunate. The stories we hear coming from that angle is unbelievable. If you look at the coruption level people talk about, I may not be going into that. When the last administration of Goodluck Jonathan left and since Buhari came into power, not much has been done for the people of the Niger Delta. You wonder if they even give them money or so. Instead, we hear stories of “we have to settle ourselves first before we settle others”. Only that statement alone will tell you how the place is being badly run.
And again, for the past two years they have been running the place with IMC or sole-administrator to the detriment of the representatives of the nine states’ members. What we are saying now is that the board should be constituted. So, when you have the nine members in place, everybody will start to struggle for the development of their individual states. I believe that if you have the nine members present in a meeting, they will be able to share the thing fairly. So, it is high time the board is constituted for the people of the Niger Delta.
