By Vincent Anikwushe

There were everywhere singing, drumming and dancing. They accompanied
the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign train across
the State. They made bold statements with their banners and T-Shirts
at the various venues of the PDP campaign rally in the 25 Local
Government Areas of Delta State.

From Oghara to Koko, from Ogbe-Ijoh to Aboh, from Agbor to Bomadi,
from Ozoro to Kiagbodo, from Ogwashi-Uku to Otu-jeremi, from Sapele to
Issele-Uku, from Akwukwu-Igbo to Orerokpe, from Warri to Asaba, from
Oleh to Uvrie, these political pressure groups from Isoko Nation did
not leave any one in doubt of their resolve, determination and
commitment to the victory of PDP in the state as well as President
Goodluck Jonathan.
In deed they stole the show at Ozoro and Oleh (their home base) when
the campaign train stormed the two ancient towns in Isoko land.

Their banners with the pictures of Senator Okowa and other PDP
candidates with various inscriptions in support of Senator Ifeanyi
Okowa, the Delta State PDP governorship flag bearer and other PDP
candidates, particularly from Isoko nation were conspicuous.

Their T-Shirts which were in different colours and sizes with face
caps to match and worn by over 5,000 members of the groups were a
delight to behold.

These political pressure groups that show cased their support and
solidarity for PDP and its candidates during the campaign are Macaulay
Political Vanguard (MPV), Isoko Advancement Network (IAN), Isoko
Grassroots Movement (IGM) and Isoko Patriot Front (IPF).

The uncommon commitment of these groups is not unconnected to the
axiom that anything worth doing is worth doing well and also an
attestation to quality, purposeful and people-oriented political
leadership in Isoko nation headed by Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay who
is the Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG) and the leader of
Isoko Political Class.

Comrade Macaulay’s sterling leadership qualities over the years speak
volumes. He shone like a star in his days as a young Information
Officer in the Ministry of Information in Benin-City, Edo State. He
was also spectacular as a staff of Bendel Broadcasting Service,
Benin-City. As the pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Union of
Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, he wrote his name in gold and
his foot prints will surely remain indelible in the sands of time. As
the Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State
Chapter, his leadership and administrative acumen also manifested
which culminated in the building of the edifice named Labour House in
Asaba, the Delta State Capital.

The Owhelogbo in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State born
leader, administrator per excellence cum politician also exhibited his
intelligence, human relations and mastery in conflict resolution in
bringing lasting peace to warring ethnic groups in Delta State during
the Warri crisis as a Commissioner for Inter-Ethnic Relations and
Conflict Resolution.

As the present Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Comrade
Ovuozourie Macaulay, has shown the stuff he is made of as he has been
piloting the affairs of the Engine Room of Government with dedication
and vigour to the delight of the state governor and for the benefit of
humanity and to the glory of God.

He is not only an achiever who knows his onions but also a great
philanthropist who has positively impacted on the lives of so many
people within and outside Delta State over the years. His rise to
stardom is by a dint of hard work and an eloquent testimony to the
saying that “Heights great men reached and kept were not attained by
sudden flight, but they, while their contemporaries slept, were
toiling through the nights”.

It is also a fact that Comrade Macaulay’s Olympian height buttresses
an adage that “A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the
very day it hatches”.

As a leader, Comrade Macaulay has many followers unlike an adage which
says “that a person who claims to be a leader without followers is
only taking a walk”

The SSG, no doubt, has performed creditable in all positions of
authority he has held thus laying credence to the fact that he has
washed his hands clean and now eating with the kings and elders.

In an interview, a member of Macaulay Political Vanguard who preferred
anonymity disclosed that Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, whom he
described as great leader, is the brain behind the groups. He
commended other Isoko sons for their roles in sustaining the groups,
adding that the SSG has been their pillar.

He pledged their unalloyed loyalty to SSG, saying that they were his
foot soldiers and as such, were irrevocably committed to his ideals.

“He is our mentor. We believe in him because he is a leader that cares
for everybody. We wish him higher positions in his political careers”

He commended his colleagues and members of other political pressure
groups in Isoko land for coming out en masse during the PDP campaign
rally across the state and for their support for Senator Ifeanyi Okowa
and other PDP candidate in the state, expressing optimism that Senator
Okowa and other PDP flag bearers would emerge victorious in the
forthcoming general elections.

Also in an interview during the PDP campaign rally at Oleh,
Comrade Macaulay hailed Macaulay Political Vanguard and other pressure
groups in Isoko land for their mobilization, sensitization and support
for PDP, disclosing that some of the groups had been in existence
since 1999.

“These groups have seen so many governors. They are the brain behind
most of the votes you get in Isoko land. The whole essence is to give
support to the PDP which is the ruling party and the candidates of PDP
so that they can win”, he affirmed.

“We supported former Governor James Ibori in 2003; we supported
Governor Emmanuel Uduahan in 2007 and 2011 and here again we are
supporting Senator Ifeanyi Okowa”.

He maintained that “we have been supporting all other candidates of
PDP and that is why you can see that especially in Isoko North no any
other party can win and if my structure alone goes to vote, the
candidate has won”.

He commended the people of Isoko North and Isoko South Local
Government Areas for their massive turnout at the PDP governorship
campaign rally at Ozoro and Oleh.

The SSG said that the massive turnout of the good people of Isoko
nation was an affirmation that PDP is deep rooted in Isoko land as
well as their conviction that those who had been managing their
affairs in the PDP government since 1999 had been able to impact
positively on their lives.

According to him, “What the people are demonstrating is an
appreciation of what we have done for them and it is only when they
vote PDP that we can do more for them because that is the only way
more people can have more appointments, more dividends of democracy
and be able to advance development and better their lives”.

While urging the people to sustain their support and vote for PDP in
rescheduled general elections for March 28 and April 11, 2015, the SSG
reminded Deltans, particularly eligible voters in Isoko Nation to
collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to enable them exercise
their franchise.