By Austin Ogwuda
At last, an Ndokwa indigene from Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State, Nigeria is serving as the acting Governor of the State since it was created on August 27, 1991, 33 years ago.
The people of Ndokwa/Ukwuani axis of Delta North otherwise referred to, as Anioma had over time accused the other two axis that make up Delta North, namely Aniocha/Oshimili and Ika over their perceived dominance in the power equation.
Actually, these two axis mentioned, I stand to be corrected have tasted both the positions of Governor and Deputy Governor at various times with no Ndokwa man having a shot to at least, the Deputy Governor.
That might had informed the decision of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo Agege to pick Friday Osanebi from Ndokwa East as his running mate during the last gubernatorial election in the State.
Omo Agege who ran under the canopy of the All Progressives Congress APC was about to cause upset by dethroning the PDP-dominated Delta, brazenly snatched two Senatorial seats out of the three.
Back to the subject matter, the clamour for Ndokwa to become the governor of the State had been troubling until Monday Onyeme finally emerged Deputy Governor since he ran a joint ticket with incumbent Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
The jinx was actually broken over a year ago, precisely 29th of May 2023 during the inauguration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s government when Sir Monday Onyeme equally subscribed to the oath of office as the Governor, sorry Deputy.
Today, he is seated as the Governor of the State on acting capacity following the handing over of powers to him by his principal, who is presently holidaying somewhere.
But can this be taken to have assuaged the Ndokwa nation crying over marginalisation for years including marginalisation in not having a shot at the office of the Governor of Delta State?
Ned Nwoko’s perspective
Senator Ned Nwoko in his own assessment had been making a bold statement on why the Ndokwa man or woman should become the governor of proposed Anioma State, which he is seriously pursuing, when eventually created.
He equally denied nursing ambition of becoming governor of proposed Anioma State saying, “My goal is to secure freedom for my people. The first governor of Anioma state should come from Ndokwa land. Despite being home to three oil-producing local government areas, the Ndokwa region remains neglected, with its environment suffering from severe degradation”, said Nwoko.
With Monday Onyeme having tasted the seat of the Deputy Governor, tasted the seat of the Governor in an acting capacity, who knows…
He has opened a new vista of hope for the Ndokwa nation to one day becoming either the Governor of Delta or that of Anioma State in the offing.
Born on 30th March, 1965 at Ibabu, Onicha Ukwuani in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief (Sir) Monday John Onyeme holds the prestigious traditional title of Odoziani 1 of Ibabu Kingdom, has had a ‘lion’s share’ of outstanding accomplishments in life.
He spent some of his life in the Northern parts of Nigeria where he obtained his First Primary School Leaving Certificate in Army Children School, Sokoto, Sokoto State. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Gummi, Kebbi State (1977-1982).
Due to his excellent grades in his GCE O’ Level he was admitted to study Accounting at Federal Polytechnic, Kaura-Namoda, Zamfara State, where he came out with a distinction grade in his National Diploma before proceeding to University of Calabar.
A ‘Malabite’, as graduates of the University of Calabar are called, he earned his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Accounting in 1990 with a Second Class Upper Division.
He later enrolled for a part-time programme with Safe Associates Accountancy Tutors, Surulere, Lagos.
The icing on the cake in his professional pursuit was when he became a Chartered Accountant in 1993. He then proceeded to the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba where he received a Diploma in Computer Science in 2002.
His wealth of knowledge subsequently prospered beyond the shores of this country.
He was at the Northumbria University in the United Kingdom (UK), where he bagged a certificate in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The Northumbria University later awarded him a Masters Degree (MA) in Business Management; and, it was not just an MA degree as this came with a well-deserved commendation from the Newcastle-based university.
Sir Onyeme, a Chartered Accountant par excellence, has made a difference in all the organizations he has worked, consistently bringing his wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on the realization of organizational goals and targets.
He was the Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), a position and responsibility he discharged faithfully when he was appointed in September 2006.
Before then, he was the Bursar of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba between November 2005 and September 2006. While at the institution, the handling of its finances was in safe hands under his watch as Chief Accountant.
Before higher positions came his way, he had climbed the ropes in professional practice as an Assistant Chief Accountant (Head, Finance and Supplies) at the National Agriculture Land Development Authority, Asaba between July 1996 and October 2000 and was Chief Accountant at Octopus Continental Enterprises, Lagos between July 1995 and June 1996.
Indeed, a rich working experience is an attribute that Sir Onyeme has in large stock as he kept garnering it over the years, including the banking industry.
Between September 1993 and June 1995, he was the Senior Executive Assistant (Audit) at Commercial Trust Bank, Lagos as well as worked in the audit department of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), in its Lagos Office between February 1992 and August 1993.
He also had a feel of the academic world as an Assistant Lecturer, Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State from October 1991 to January 1992.
Moreover, he rubbed minds with national and global counterparts through attendance of trainings, seminars and workshops locally and internationally. These took him to foreign climes like Dubai, Sudan, Florida, Texas, London, Oxford, Mauritius, Paris, South Africa, India and many other places.
Sir Onyeme has various publications to his credit, including one he displayed his research prowess, titled “Corporate Environmental Accounting and Reporting in the United Kingdom: A Survey of Selected Companies in Cumbria (2004).”
His professional warchest includes membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria.
A fraud buster, he is also a member of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Sir Onyeme, a Knight of Saint Christopher (KSC) of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as well as a noble Knight, was appointed as the Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) on September 30th, 2015 to September 30th, 2019.
As a result of his contributions to the optimal increase of the Internally Generated Revenue Service of the State and his commitment to service delivery, he was reappointed by the Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, as Chairman, Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DSIRS).
He is presently the acting Governor of Delta State and would be reverting back to his office as soon as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori returns from vacation.
Monday Onyeme, is he the Biblical Joseph who went ahead of his people to secure a prosperous future?
Time will tell, definitely!