Away from Taraba state, Governor Agbu Kefas is making waves in Yenogoa, Bayelsa state as the Chairman of PDP campaign council in Saturday’s governorship polls. Yesterday, Tuesday was the grand finale of the Governor Douye Diri campaigns that saw him visiting all the nooks and cranny of the state.
Expectedly, the event was a star studded one with the who’s who in the land storming the venue. Governors of Edo, Delta and Akwa Ibom were present with others sending in their deputies. There were also members of the National Assembly, Former governors and power brokers in the riverine state. It was a star event with Governor Agbu Kefas clearly becoming the cynosure of all. He was the center of attraction not only because he’s leading the team but also because of his general disposition: calm, composed and looking royal in Ijaw customes.
He oozed confidence as he beamed his smile at everyone. Those who haven’t met him were whispering within ear shots asking who he was. Their doubts were cleared by the Masters of Ceremonies, who introduced the chairman to the podium.
As usual, Gov Kefas kept his opening speech short and simple. He screamed the ijaw rallying catch phrase “Asawana” to the delight of Diri’s supporters who surged forward to acknowledged their August visitor. “Reverence” is the right word that described the acceptability of the Kefas phenomenon here.
The day before this grand finale, Governor Kefas was at the home of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The level of mutual respect and honour can only be described as epic. President Jonathan had nothing but admiration for the retired Lieutenant Colonel turned politician.
The Niger Delta is obviously Kefas oyster, a place he feels at home with and the center of many of his peace efforts over the years. History has a record of his legendary roles to end the militancy in these parts. He is practically a honorary citizen here too with his names synonymous to effective use of power to bring communities together.
His choice then by the party topmost hierarchy to lead the PDP to victory in Saturday’s poll was apt. In his remarks at the grand finale, Kefas assured the supporters that their choice of Diri’s continuity was in order. Quoting from the scriptures, Kefas said “when the righteous is in power the people rejoice”.
Later that day, you can not help but feel the moral authority Governor Kefas wields in these parts as statesmen, political actors and community leaders trooped in to have an audience with him.
Emmanuel Bello
Special Adviser Media and Digital Communications to Governor Kefas
