The Ika nation once stood tall in Delta politics—respected, cohesive, and decisive. From producing the first Deputy Governor of Delta State in Evangelist Simeon Ebonka, to the first Speaker and Acting Governor in the late Prince Sam Obi, and crowning that legacy with Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the first Ika Governor (2015–2023) and Vice Presidential candidate in 2023, Ika land held enviable sway in Delta’s political power play.
But today, the story is dangerously different. Factionalism, petty rivalries, and tribal undertones have infiltrated Ika politics. There’s an unsettling division between Agbor and Owa, between old political camps and new power blocs, between PDP loyalists, LP hopefuls, APC agitators, and emerging third-force players. What was once a unified political front is fast becoming an arena of self-cancellation.
The most alarming reality is this: while other ethnic groups in Delta—Urhobo, Isoko, Anioma West, and even Itsekiri—are building super blocs to consolidate influence and secure future power, Ika leaders are tearing down their own house. From 2015 to 2023, Ika held the governorship. But in the 2023 elections, Ika couldn’t even unite to win the House of Assembly seat in a clean sweep. Okowa’s candidate lost his senatorial bid in a zone he once dominated. That’s not just defeat—it’s decline.
Already, whispers from major power brokers in Delta are shifting toward Urhobo consolidation and Anioma realignment. The 2027 contest is no longer years away—it’s already taking shape. The big question is: where will Ika stand in the new arrangement?
History teaches us that no divided people ever win power, much less retain it. Today, personal ambition, ego, and sectional interest have replaced the communal vision that once drove Ika’s rise. Political elites and grassroots leaders now campaign more against each other than for the common cause. The Agbor vs. Owa rivalry—long buried—has found new life in local gossip, social media jabs, and ballot box betrayal. Tribal chauvinism has replaced strategic thinking. Meanwhile, the average Ika youth faces rising unemployment, poor infrastructure, and political disillusionment.
If we don’t fix this, we will become a political afterthought in Delta’s future. The path forward demands a paradigm shift. Ika must reimagine politics—not as a contest of personalities but a coalition of purpose. Leaders across party lines must sit together—not just to share appointments, but to chart a developmental roadmap for Ika land. Elders must rise above bitterness. Youths must reject being used as political weapons. Every community, from Orogodo to Mbiri, from Umunede to Abavo, must see itself not as a rival tribe but a piece of a greater Ika whole.
Let the next House of Assembly, Senate, and Governorship contests not be a repeat of mutual sabotage. Let merit, integrity, and community interest guide our choices, not tribal bias or party loyalty alone. Let us build alliances, not enmity. Because if Ikas cancel Ikas, the world will move on—and we’ll be left with stories of what we used to be.
The time to rise above our differences is now. Tomorrow might be too late!
