By Comrade Emmanuel Egbehor
Of all the aspirants jostling for space in the upcoming governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Delta State, Sen James Ebiowou Manager stands supreme.
Here’s a man who has tenaciously and patiently followed and participated in the growth and political development of democratic governance in Delta state since the third Republic, having served as the commissioner of sports under the then government of Chief Felix Ibru.
This humble and grassroots politician who began his political career from his native Bomadi local government council was soon to become an enigma, a bridge-builder in Delta politics as he rose to become an active force in the Delta political family that has produced all the three governors of the 4th Republic.
It should be recalled that Sen James Manager was the Chairman of PDP in the state at the advent of this democratic dispensation, at the time former Gov James Ibori was elected governor for the first term in 1999.
He served as commissioner for a term in Ibori’s first cabinet before he proceeded to the red chambers of the National assembly, where he has the office for an unprecedented 5 terms.
This esteemed and highly respected pan Delta politician of Ijaw extraction sure knows how to play politics without bitterness. His frequent electoral victory over his political opponents does not breed division and animosity but rather unity as a result of his usual altruistic disposition towards politics and politicking. His continued relevance in the Delta political family despite his past electoral victory over one of its scions in the Delta South Senatorial zone laid credence to this.
Senator Manager’s popularity among his people, especially his fellow Ijaw political elites is cordially warming. This owes partly to his wealth of experience as a foremost Ijaw politician highly respected beyond the Ijaw nation, on one hand, and the numerous developmental projects he brought to his constituency, on the other.
From the NDDC road Bomadi to the Bomadi-Tuomo road, from the gigantic Gbaregorlor bridge on Bomadi-Gbaregorlor road to Enekorogha road, and from Edegbene-Ogriagbene road to Kalafrogbene road, Sen James Manager has stamped his humble self in the memories of his people.
Beyond his numerous developmental projects in his community, Senator James “Egbage” Manager, as he is fondly called by his people, has paid his dues in Delta politics. He has played vital role in the emergence of Urhobo, Itsekiri and Anioma born Governors, the reason he’s highly respected across the state and regarded as a bridge-builder whose time has come.
In his first consultative outing with delegates in the three riverine local councils of Bomadi, Burutu and Patani, Sen Manager reinstated the above: “I have been involved in making governors in the state from the time of Chief Felix Ibru, through Chief James Ibori, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan to Dr Ifeanyi Okowa. It is time for the Kingmaker to become the King”
Senator James Manager is an experienced mind, a pan Deltan and a prepared vessel, ready to serve his beloved Delta people in the spirit of oneness, togetherness and peace. As he would always say, “my primary agenda will be rural transformation, urban renewal, peace and security, and quality education for the youths because an educated mind, makes the difference”
To sacrifice this type of an experienced and visionary hope on the altar of primordial sentiments and under the pretence of an inexisting political arrangement that seeks to favour only the machinations of its proponents is to deny the people of Delta state, quality leadership and representation. Senator James”Egbage” Manager is an idea whose time has come.
