Benard Efe
As the 2023 build-up gathers momentum with avalanche of names of governorship aspirants springing from various political constituencies across the state. Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, the Deputy Governor of Delta State is a man to watch out for as he may succeed his boss, against all odds to be sworn-in as the next governor to take from his boss.
This is simple arithmetics following the widespread scope of political friendship he had patiently built with the last six years aimed creating grassroot structures across the state.
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Many more are warming up to stake their neck in the chest board of the 2023 power play to rule at the Dennis Osadebe’s house. Most paramount contenders are between the Delta Central constituency and the Delta South senatorial zone.
In Delta South constituency, the Ijaws have made a good point through the 2023 Ijaw lobby group headed by former police minister, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, soliciting and lobbying other ethnic nationalities across the state.
The Ijaw argument is virtually hinged on justice and equity to allow the Ijaws to govern Delta state since its creation as they have been used to enthrone governors from all the ethnic nationalities in the state.
In the Ijaw axis, three strong aspirants are warming to play it out with other contenders in 2023 to govern the state. They are Senator James Manager, Dr. Bradus Angozi, Barr. Kingsley Otiaro and Chief Sheriff Mulade.
There may be more interested persons who may throw in their hats as the time table draws near. Among the likely speculated successor of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, is his deputy governor, a man of peace and God fearing who will not allow his personal interest jeopardize the common interest of the general public.
A team player, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro would perform the magic wand who may give a fight to other aspirants in not only his Ijaw axis, but the entire state to succeed his boss in 2023.
Otuaro has created a strong political base from the grassroot as deputy governor twice under Senator Ifeanyi Okowa through intense lobbying and secret philanthropy/charity garnering large political followership, and is said to be predominantly supported by top Delta Central top politicians and captains of industries to come out openly to root for his governorship ambition as soon possible, when the drums start to beat.
Read little about the profile of the likely successor of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in 2023.
Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Deputy Governor, Delta State, was born in Oporoza, Warri South-West Local Government Area (LGA), Delta State, on April 16, 1968 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Burutu Otuaro who hailed from Okerenkoko and Obotebe in Warri South-West and Burutu LGAs respectively of Delta State.
He attended Asoro Primary School, Benin City, in then Bendel State and in 1980 obtained his Primary School Leaving Certificate.
He began his secondary school career in Immaculate Conception College, Benin City, from 1981 to 1983, and later completed same in Isaba Grammar School, Isaba, Delta State, from 1983 to 1985 when he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC).
On completion of Secondary School in 1985, he worked with NISCO Nigeria Ltd in Jones Creek Flow Station in SPDC Northern Swamp Operations as a Technical Support Staff and later with Nigerian Dredging and Marine, Warri, Delta State, as deck-hand in the Marine Department.
Otuaro subsequently sought and got admission in 1994 into the Edo State (now Ambrose Alli) University, Ekpoma where he obtained his LLB with honours in 1999/2000. He subsequently attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2005.
Upon graduation from the University, he was elected Chairman of Okerenkoko Federated Communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom from 2000 to 2006 during which period Otuaro honed his leadership skills. Otuaro, while growing as a brilliant youth had always pitched tent with the elders and leadership of Gbaramatu-Ijaw Kingdom from whom he drew much inspiration. In the period he served as chairman of his Okerenkoko community, he became, additionally, in 2004, Managing Director of Bruz-Otus Nigeria Ltd. Between 2005 to 2007, he served as Special Assistant on Community Affairs to Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
This appointment by Ibori apparently followed Otuaro’s impressive performance as Chairman of Warri Ijaw-Itsekiri Grassroots Peace Front, an active non-governmental initiative that propelled fighters out of the battle lines, to achieve, in June 1, 2004, the final cessation of inter-ethnic hostilities in the then raging Warri crisis.
In achieving this, Otuaro related with notable Itsekiri activists including Daniel Reyenieju who is presently the Honourable Member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Thomas Eyiritomi, a prominent Itsekiri chief, Matthew Itsekiri, Mr. Mofe Pirah, Rev. Sam Ken, Chief Dan Ekpebide, Engr. Christopher Mala and host of other prominent Deltans.
Between 2003 to 2009, Otuaro was Secretary of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC), a non-governmental organization committed to the struggle for resource control in Nigeria and enthronement of proper democracy especially in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
In 2008, he was appointed by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as Member of the Prof. Sam Oyovbaire-led Delta State Technical Support Committee charged with feeding materials to the Delta State Contingent to the Ledum Mittee Committee on the Niger Delta, where Otuaro met the rigorous challenge of defending state interests.
This Technical Support Committee was retained after its successful assignment as Standing Committee to study strengths and weaknesses of enabling instruments of state-owned institutions/agencies and recommending amends for better service delivery.
Such agencies included the Community Development Committees (CDCs), Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Housing, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as it relates to Delta State, etc.
In apparent deference to his detribalized and peace-seeking disposition, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan again appointed him in 2009 as Chairman, Delta State Rehabilitation Committee for Internally Displaced Persons during the military Joint Task Force bombardment of Niger Delta agitators in the Warri axis, a sensitive assignment he creditably performed.
From 2011 to 2012, he served as the Commissioner representing the Ijaw ethnic nationality on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) before the board was dissolved. On re-constitution of the DESOPADEC board, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan re-appointed him to serve in same capacity from 2012 to 2014.
Determined to learn new ways of achieving peaceful environment, Barr. Otuaro obtained in 2014, a Masters Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from Nigeria’s premier University, the University of Ibadan, thereby bagging a competence that properly fit him into implementation of Okowa’s SMART agenda principally pivoted on peace-building.
Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, a Deacon of the Christ Embassy Christian persuasion, is happily married to Engr.(Mrs.) Ebierin Otuaro and their marriage is blessed with children.
Benard Efe writes from Ughelli
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Daily Report Nigeria
