Sapele Politics from 1999
The question of 'What is Politics?' is one that due to its interpretation has drawn much debate from numerous people around the world. A lot of people have attributed politics to business, while some sees politics as power. The definition of politics as power is the broadest and most radical. Here politics is all encompassing from government, state or public realm to all works and all social activities and in every corner of human existence. Therefore, politics takes place at every level of our social life; it can be found within families and amongst small groups of friends just as much as amongst nations and on the global stage. Politics is seen here as the Distribution of Power and Resources, at its broadest, politics concerns the production, distribution and use of resources in the course of social existence. Politics is, in essence, power: the ability to achieve a desired outcome, through whatever means. This idea was summarized in the title of Harold Lasswell’s book Politics: Who Gets What, When, How? (1936), from his perspective, politics is about diversity and conflict, but the essential ingredient is the existence of scarcity: the simple fact that, while human needs and desires are infinite, the resources available to satisfy them are always limited. Politics can therefore be seen as a struggle over scarce resources, and power can be seen as the means through which this struggle is conducted.
The politics of Sapele, the entire Okpe Kingdom, Delta State and Nigeria are not left out from the perspective of seeing politics as power. We are aware of what the Chairman of a local government can do, likewise the governor of a state, as well as the president of the nation. These three executive heads can transform their environment for good or bad, for the good of all or otherwise. The power they possess from and by the constitution is so enormous that they even have immunity while holding the office. Some of the holders of these positions have transformed their locality to the envy of others; they have also empowered their youths, women and the needy at the expenses of the state and from their personal purse. Their goal and desire is for transformation and change. Sapele politics from 1999 to date has witnessed a lot of transformations under one man. A political leader that the people of Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State and Nigeria is very proud of and going by his works, brought great things to his people than any before him.
Honorable (Chief) Monday Owigho Igbuya born 17th August, 1956 and a graduate from the Delta State University, Abraka. A quintessential leader, a great follower and believer of true democracy is from Elume, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State. He worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja in the mid 1980’s. He started his political career in 1986 and from that time till now nothing has stopped him because of his visions for his people. He was the Chairman of Sapele Local Government Council from 1999 to 2007. As the Chairman he touched the lives of so many people in Sapele Local Government Area and also transformed the area. He constructed the chamber of the Chairman and Vice Chairman; he introduced town-hall meetings were he normally presents his yearly projects to the people of Sapele Local Government Area. In 2007 and 2011, he was elected and re-elected to represent the Sapele people in the Delta State House of Assembly because of his political sagacity. As a member of the Delta State House of Assembly Hon. (Chief) Igbuya has affected the legislation in the chamber to the benefit of his people and the entire Delta State by the moving of various important motions, one of such is the motion for the dissolution of the membership of The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) in 2012 and to put in place a rotating machinery that will be favourable to the oil producing areas. He is also responsible for the construction of the Sapele Stadium, market and a lot of electricity projects that is on-going in his constituency. Hon. (Chief) Igbuya has brought more joy and done more services to his constituency than any other representative.
As we look ahead and work towards 2015 for a better representative in the Nigeria polity, the likes of Hon. (Chief) Owigho Igbuya comes to mind because of what he stand for and what he has done for the people and the democratic process in Nigeria. Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State and Nigeria needs committed men and politicians like Hon. (Chief) Monday Owigho Igbuya to deliver more of the dividends of democracy. Hon. Igbuya understands what democracy means, for him (Igbuya) Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people and because of this the people comes first.Hon. Owigho Igbuya is an astute politician and a strong member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Collins Clarke (2013)