•After gaining so much reputation as a social justice advocate, it is so disappointing of Prof G G Darah to continue to be a shameless Thief James Ibori bootlicker.
• Darah, relatives and Esaba/ Otutuama/Ophorigbala community leaders have no moral justification to complain and castigate Okowa and his administration for not responding to the Otutuama-Esaba-Ophorigbala road after his predecessors failed to make progress.
Every time the frustrations of Ughievwen people over the lingering contract to construct the Okwagbe-Otutuama-Esaba-Ophorigbala Road comes up, it continues to drain the once high respect I had for erudite public affairs discussant, Prof G G Darah.
A remarkable reservoir of knowledge, my admiration for Darah grew so much through his will to speak truth to power in strong advocacy for social justice during his active media presence as one of the most read columnists in the Daily Times and Guardian newspapers where he became Chairman of Editorial Board.
I was more attracted to his lurid exposition on the social dysfunctions in governance and on the exploitation of the rich oil in his native Ughievwen kingdom with no commensurate benefits to the host communities.
It is a shame that the moment Thief, sorry, Chief James Ibori appointed Darah into his Delta State Government at the onset of the new democratic dispensation in 1999, Darah turned from social critic to a pathetic praise singer and worshipper of Ibori.
Obviously, Darah’s appointment by Ibori was to gag him from judging his massive thieving government. So for a plate of porridge, Darah would keep leaking Ibori’s boots, singing his praises while he looted Delta treasury blind.
Even after Ibori landing in a UK jail for over half a decade for stealing Delta’s money, Darah, a Professor who is supposed to be upright in character and learning continues to worship and glorify a thief who had brought shame to Urhobo land.
It is a measure of how much Urhobo had failed in leadership that failed leaders and thieves are the people Urhobo worship as heroes. How do we hope to build good leaders of tomorrow when we promote the likes of Ibori as Urhobo role models.
Back to Darah, the real focus of this reflection. Because he was more interested in self-importance and pecks of office than Ughievvwen common good, for eight years of Ibori and eight years under Uduaghan, Darah couldn’t see to the Okwagbe-Otutuama-Esaba-Ophorigbala road development.
Don’t forget, these were eras in which Darah had so much influence in both administrations as Chief Propagandist and image launderer for Ibori and successor elder cousin, Uduaghan.
It’s so appalling that after failing to see to the construction of his community road when he had the most chance to influence it in government, Darah and other relatives still find some justification to criticise the incumbent Okowa administration for not having completed the road project. Who does that?
Most disappointingly, Darah still hopes to earn the same public respect after messing up his hard-earned image by turning from a social justice advocate to an Ibori bootlicker. You can’t eat your cake and have it. How could Darah have thought that rubbishing his towering academic career and widespread recognition to be an Ibori praise singer was worth the fringe benefits? Pure self-deceit.
It’s a shame that Darah failed to get the Okwagbe-Otutuama-Esaba-Ophorigbala Road done. If Okowa fails to do that road now in his time, who would rather blame him?
Am so disappointed in Darah. And I dare say I am not the only one he has lost his respect. Such a pity. A Professor, very informed one at that, losing so much honour, for how much gain in return? Oghenebiko ooo.
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