By Moses Darah

 

With respect to the issue of having servant leaders, it is the case that the Urhobo people have been unfortunate. The likes of Chief Samuel Jereton Mariere (First Governor of the defunct Midwest State, February 1964 to January 1966); Major-General David Akpode Ejoor (Military Governor of the Mid-Western Region, January 1966-August 1967); Olorogun Felix Ovudoroye Ibru (First Executive Governor of Delta State, January 1992 – November 1993 and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2003-2007); Senator Fred Brume (1999-2003), and Chief James Onanefe Ibori (Delta State governor, 1999-2007) to mention but a few. These leaders performed effectively well, culminating in massive development of Urhobo land. Their true leadership commitments inspired, sustained and attracted the people to the process of continuous personal growth. 

 

The Urhobo today are not without servant-leaders, one of which is Hon. Barr. Samuel Mariere. Like the New Testament’s book of Matthew provides a genealogical account of Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of the Most High, linking it with great patriarchs such as Abraham and David, so is Hon. Barr. Mariere, member representing Ughelli North constituency 1 at the Delta State House of Assembly and the candidate of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming Federal House of Representatives (Ughelli/Udu constituency) elections. In particular, this gentleman is a replica of his father, Chief Mariere genetically, in values, leadership, character and actions.

 

It is not my intension to do praise singing in this write-up, but to draw attention to what is beneficial to us. In previous articles, I did place Hon Mariere as my best DTHA member, “Let me quickly mention my first and second best house members. They are Hon Samuel Mariere of Ughelli North for influencing multiple projects especially schools to almost all the communities in his constituency and Hon Reuben Izeze of Ughelli South for ensuring the takeoff of Okwagbe/Otutuama/Esaba road's construction and the payment of bursary to deserving students in tertiary institutions.”

 

In another write-up in which I sought to draw Government's quick intervention to the pathetic State of Esaba road, Hon Mariere, haven read the article was concerned despite the fact that it was neither his constituency nor was it an electioneering season. The display of his compassion is likened to the famous biblical phrase, the shortest of verse in the King James Version of the Bible, "Jesus wept". To be specific, he called and said, "Moses, I will visit this Esaba,  Ukperheren and Ekrota road to see things for myself. The area will be part of my constituency that I will represent come May 29, 2019. But I don't want media coverage, so that people will not say I am using it for campaign". He visited privately and promised to make the road as his constituency project. As at this point, it was not an electioneering season yet. He was only looking forward to the future, planning ahead, studying the needs of the constituency he wants to represent someday.

 

Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared open the campaigns for the 2019 general elections, Hon Mariere has paid more attention to the study of the needs of the people, especially those of the riverine communities. Sure, his manifesto has also been tailored towards liberating these communities from the shackles of abandonment, deprivation and underdevelopment. A vote for this ideal servant-leader is a vote for progress, prosperity and growth.

 

Dr Moses Darah, a Lecturer with the Delta State University, Abraka wrote this article in 2018 before the 2019 general elections. 

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