Victor Ochei, former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly

The picture currently playing out in Delta State is that of the just ousted Speaker of Delta House of Assembly, Victor Ochie, desperately running from pillar to post to save what is left of political aspiration.

Information gathered by TLT indicate that Victor has been working his phone lines to reach the godfather of Delta State politics, James Ibori, even as the latter is presently serving a jail term far away in a London prison. A source close to Ibori confirmed that Ochei made effort to contact Ibori but to no avail. The source said Ochei asked that Ibori should be informed that he would be in London in few days to visit Ibori and tell him his side of the story. It is not yet yet if Ibori will be willing to see him.

It has been gathered that the powerful forces that control Delta politics are determined to see the back of the immediate past speaker by nailing him with corruption charges and eventual prosecution, which will reduce him to fighting for his survival. This plan was reportedly leaked to Ochei, and he has since been sending emissaries to the jailed former governor, who allegedly had a hand in his resignation.

Ibori camp, led by the governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, is reportedly opposed to Ochie’s governorship ambition. There are reports he has been counseled to shelve the dream but Ochei was adamant and continued to build structures across various strata of Delta politics. His action was seen as an act of disloyalty to Ibori and Uduaghan; and as such, they quickly set machinery in motion to disgrace Ochei out of office. He promptly resigned when he realised he had lost the confidence of members of House of Assembly.

Though Ochei has resorted to maintaining a low profile since his resignation, insiders say he is not relenting on his avowed gubernatorial ambition. Defection to another party is also being explored as an option. Meanwhile, plans are being hatched by the Uduaghan-led government to mounting to politically silence him. There are strong indications that probes into alleged a multi billion contract scam in which he has been fingered might open soon in a bid to totally silence him.

James Ibori may have been incarcerated having been convicted of financial frauds of various degrees, he still commands a great deal of political influence back home in Nigeria, particularly in his home-state where he is still as deified as he was when he was governor. He was instrumental to the political rise of Ochei.

The powers that be in Delta have identified who will succeed Uduaghan but his identity is under wrap for now.