BY ANOTE AJELUOROU
IT seems such an unusual request, one that is quite different from what Nigeria’s electorate is used to- an aspirant for public office demanding strongly that the electorate holds him accountable long before he gets near the office he is vying for.
Dr. Emmanuel Usiwoghene Unuafe isn’t coming to the table with the usual political fanfare Nigerians common among politicians. That makes his aspirations, under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), different and exciting to anyone listening to him, especially the electorate in Delta State, where he is aspiring to unseat Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Although it is his first contest for political office, his entry is the proverbial fresh air Nigerians and Deltans perennially yearn for, but which remain ever elusive.
Untainted by the usual corruption baggage typical of Nigerian politicians, Unuafe is pushing a narrative that is not only different, but practical in orientation.
A professor of Project Management at Arden University, Coventry, England, United Kingdom (UK), Unuafe is bringing not just his high academic pedigree, but the experience of living and working in a country where systems work properly for the ordinary man on the streets, who doesn’t need to know any big man before he enjoys social amenities.
This is perhaps where his aspiration unsettles Nigeria and Delta State’s usual established practice that favours only those connected to the centre of power and the powerful.
While Nigeria’s political class gallivants abroad for all forms of frivolous tourism- medical, educational, vacation, trade expo- Unuafe continues to live and embody all these, as a resident and tenured professor in the UK.
His administration will therefore be a practical demonstration of how ‘abroad’ and its clock-work systems work for their people- proper healthcare, education, electricity, industries, leisure, etc.
While all Nigerian politicians believe that they, their families and cronies only deserve to enjoy functional systems abroad created by others with the misuse of our common purse, Unuafe is poised to bring ‘abroad’ systems home to his native Delta with the sort of leadership practised abroad that the entire populace only dreams of or sees in pictures or films.
What make his electioneering promises even more exciting is his academic portfolio of project management, which transcends his academic discipline to practical application in realtime practice.
Unuafe stated in his continuing grassroots consultation engagements: “As we approach this defining moment, I speak not just to delegates, but to every citizen who believes in the promise of a better Delta.
“This election is more than a contest of individuals; it is a choice between maintaining the familiar and embracing the possible; our state is rich in talent, culture, and opportunity, yet too many of our people still wait for the progress they deserve.
“I stand before you with a simple, but powerful conviction: A new Delta is possible. Not through empty promises, but through fresh thinking, accountable leadership and the courage to do things differently.”
It is this lack of Unuafe’s promised ‘fresh thinking’ that has hobbled development across the country and Delta State and why a rich state is unable to rise above states, such as Zamfara and Yobe, for example, and or compare with Lagos and Rivers states.
It is this narrative of failure he sees deeply etched in the faces of Deltans across villages and cities, a product of greed and faulty allocation of vast resources to service vested interests, that he has come to rewrite with fresh thinking that Delta’s inclement political environment stifles.
After 27 years of failed political leadership by entrenched politicians, who have stunted the growth of an otherwise rich state, Unuafe doesn’t just represent the untainted spirit of the modern age, he is coming into the scene to disrupt the status quo and embark on a reset of a system deliberately wrecked and rigged for the benefit of an insignificant few, while the majority wallow in abject poverty.
For Deltans, Unuafe has a clear message that embodies the healthy aspirations of every man on the streets: Access to basic infrastructure, such as electricity, healthcare, education, industries, as inalienable rights, not privileges.
He stated: “To the delegates, you hold a responsibility that goes beyond today. Your decision will shape the direction of our future.
“I urge you to look beyond tradition and consider the urgency of now and the need for innovation, inclusion, and results.
“To the electorate, your voice is your power. Demand more. Expect better. And choose leadership that reflects your aspirations, not your frustrations.
“Give me the opportunity to serve, to prove that with fresh minds and a shared vision, we can build a Delta that works for all, fairer, stronger and full of opportunity. Let us choose progress.”
He added, even as he progresses in his consultations across communities, constituencies and senatorial districts: “I speak to you not just as an aspirant, but as someone who understands what the word ‘future’ truly means.
“Your are not gathered for politics as usual; you are gathered for legacy, for structure, for generational progress. That is exactly what this New Delta Vision represents.
“A people so rich in intellect, enterprise and culture should not still be negotiating for basics. That tells us one thing: The system has not worked as it should.
“My vision is simple, but transformational: A Delta State where opportunity is institutionalised, not personalised, where no young Delta son or daughter needs to ‘know someone’ to succeed, where power supply is treated as an economic priority, not a campaign promise, where youth enterprise is funded transparently and women economically empowered as wealth creators.
“A Delta State where local governments function as engines of development. Delta does not lack talent. Delta does not lack ambition. What has been inconsistent is structured support.
“The New Delta Vision is about building systems that make development predictable, not seasonal. Systems that ensure citizens of Delta State are not remembered only during elections, but respected consistently in governance and resource allocation.
“The future of Delta State is not built on sentiment; it is built on structure, it is built on leadership that understands both struggle and strategy, leadership that knows development is non-negotiable.
“If you align with this vision, you are not just supporting aspiration; you are supporting a framework that protects Delta’s long-term interests. Together, we can ensure sustainable infrastructure development, transparent economic empowerment, youth-driven productivity and equal opportunity for every child in Delta State.
“This is about moving from advocacy to authority, from asking for inclusion to institutionalising it. I ask for your support, not just emotionally, but strategically.
“Let us partner to build a Delta where growth is guaranteed by the system, not by proximity. The future you speak of, let us build it together.”
