Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja

Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja
Nigerian Senator
Incumbent
Assumed office June 6, 2011 Serving with Smart Adeyemi and Nurudeen Abatemi
Preceded by	Nicholas Ugbane
Constituency	Kogi East
Personal details
Born	April 3, 1956 (1956-04-03) (age 55) Idah, Kogi State
Political party	People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
Spouse(s)	Mrs. A.P Ocheja
Alma mater	Ahmadu Bello Univesity (LLB)
Occupation	Lawyer
Profession	Politician
Website	http://danganaocheja.com

Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja (born April 3, 1956) is a Nigerian Senator representing Kogi East senatorial district in the National Assembly, and a member of the People's Democratic Party (Nigeria).^[1]

He is the Principal Partner of Dangana, Musa & Co, a law firm based in Kano and Lagos states in Nigeria.^[2]

Early Life and Education

Ocheja was born in Idah, Kogi State. He is a graduate of law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria.

Ocheja was born into the family of Mallam Yusuf Okpanachi Ocheja (father) and Princess Ajuma Ocheja (nee Obaje) (mother). He is a member of the royal establishment of the Igala Kingdom as a direct descendant of HRM Aiyegba oma Idoko (father of Inikpi). His Mother is a sister to the sitting Atta (King) of the Igala Kingdom HRM Dr.Aliyu Obaje GCFR. ^[3]

He enrolled in St. Boniface Primary school in Idah where he obtained his first school leaving certificate. He then proceeded to Our Lady of Schools, Anyigba, Kogi State for his secondary education. He served as Head Boy there between 1973 and 1975. He enrolled in Ahmadu Bello University and earned a diploma in Law with distinction in 1978. He earned his LL.B degree from the same university in June 1981. Ocheja was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1982 after completing his course at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos State. ^[3],^[2]

Professional Career

Barrister Ocheja joined the Chambers of B.G. Ahmed & Co in 1983 and rose to the position of Head of Litigation. He left the firm in 1986 to start up his private Law firm in 1986 in Kano State named Dangana, Musa & Co where he is designated as "Principal in Chambers".

Politics

Ocheja interacting with the people in Idah.

2003 Elections

In 2003, Ocheja sought the nomination of the People's Democratic Party to contest for the governorship seat of Kogi State against the incumbent Prince Abubakar Audu of the All Nigeria Peoples Party.^[4] He contested the primaries of the PDP against Senator Ahmed Tijani Ahmed, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, AVM Isaac Alfa rtd, Senator Alex Kadiri, Engr. Emmanuel Uchola, and a number of other contestants. Alhaji Ibrahim Idris won the primaries and went on to win the general elections in April 2003. ^[5] After his defeat at the party primaries, Ocheja remained in the People's Democratic Party and campaigned for the victory of its candidate (Alhaji Ibrahim Idris) at the polls. Idris named Ocheja as the secretary of the transition committee that midwifed the transfer of power from Prince Abubakar Audu to his government.

Political Appointments

In 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Barrister Ocheja to serve as the Chairman of the board of directors of the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL: A subsidiary of the NNPC). He returned to Kogi State politics in 2008 to serve as the Chairman of the state chapter of the People's Democratic Party, filling a void that had been created by the ascension of Chief John Odawn into the national ex-officio of the party. He was appointed as the Chairman of the Kogi State Local Government Service Commission later in the same year. ^[6][7]

2011 Elections

In late 2010, Ocheja declared his intention to contest elections into the National Assembly of Nigeria to serve as Senator in the 7th (2011-2015) session on the platform of the People's Democratic Party. He contested the primary elections against Ambassador Isaac Onu (then Nigerian Ambassador to Botswana), AVM Isaac Alfa (a former Chief of Air Staff 1999-2001), Hon Attai Aidoko Usman (then Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the FCT), Barrister Kabiru Mohammed, Abdulrahman Abubakar (a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation), and a number of others. Ocheja won the party primaries by polling 820 votes to beat Alfa and Onu who polled 543 and 344 votes respectively. ^[8]

Ocheja also won the general elections against his main challenger Hon. Attai Aidoko Usman who flew the flag of the All Nigeria Peoples Party. Hon. Usman had emerged as the ANPP candidate after joining the party upon losing the PDP ticket to Ocheja. ^[9]. In the elections held on April 9th 2011, Ocheja polled 131,386 votes versus Hon. Usman's 114,786 votes.^[1][10]

Senate Career

Ocheja took the oath of office as Senator representing Kogi East (Igala/Bassa speaking areas of Kogi State) in the National Assembly on June 6, 2011.

President Goodluck Jonathan (as Chairman of Authority of Heads of states of ECOWAS and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) administered the oath of office to Senator Ocheja to serve as a member of the Nigerian delegation to the ECOWAS regional parliament on August 11, 2011.

Senate Committee Appointments

In September 2011, Senate President David Mark named Senator Ocheja as the Vice Chairman of the senate committee on the Navy. He was also named as a member of the senate committees on Defense & Army, Appropriation, Gas, Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters, and Privatization.

Recognition

Ocheja in chieftaincy robes (As the Akomu Atta Igala).

Ocheja was turbaned as the Akomu Atta Igala by HRM Dr.Aliyu Obaje (The paramount ruler of the Igala Kingdom) on December 27, 2009. At the ceremony, HRM Dr. Aliyu Obaje described Barrister Dagana Ocheja as a "worthy son of Igala land who had contributed immensely to the development of the area".^[11]. In Igala traditional circles, Senator Ocheja is saluted by proclamations of "Doga" to signify the title he bears.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "INEC Election results". Independent national Electoral Commission. April 9, 2011. http://www.inecnigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2011/06/NASS-Final-Ammended-01062011.pdf. Retrieved June 7, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Know your candidates". April 6, 2011. http://candidates.nigeriaelections.org/candidate/profile/candidate/1262/. Retrieved June 6, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Samuel Ilani (January 6, 2009). "When Dangana Ocheja Was Conferred Akomu Attah-Igala". http://www.kogigraphics.com/localnews.htm. Retrieved June 3, 2011. 
4. ^ Ralph Aluko (July 16, 2002). "Guber Aspirant Assures On PDP Victory". Thisday Newspapers (Nigeria). http://allafrica.com/stories/200207160170.html. Retrieved February 10, 2011. 
5. ^ Gabriel Agbonika (January 9, 2003). "The Battle for Lugard House". Daily Trust Newspaper. http://allafrica.com/stories/200301080714.html. Retrieved June 7, 2011. 
6. ^ Ibrahim Obansa (December 29, 2010). "Zoning To Decide Electoral Slots In Kogi State". National Daily Newspaper. http://ngrnationaldaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4355:zoning-to-decide-electoral-slots-in-kogi-state-&catid=137:politics-and-interview&Itemid=612. Retrieved February 27, 2011. 
7. ^ Shola Oyeyipo (October 23, 2010). "Scramble for Kogi Senatorial Seats". Thisday Newspapers. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/scramble-for-kogi-senatorial-seats/75976/. Retrieved May 30, 2011. 
8. ^ "Aspirants Reject PDP Order On Re-Run In Kogi". The Nigerian Observer. February 1, 2011. http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/01022011/news/Other%20News/othernews13.html. Retrieved June 7, 2011. 
9. ^ Oyewale Adebayo (April 2, 2011). "Kogi: Fight to the finish". Nigerian Compass. http://www.compassnewspaper.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3491:kogi-fight-to-the-finish&catid=42:analysis&Itemid=617. Retrieved April 27, 2011. 
10. ^ Isiaka Wakili (May 11, 2011). "… Kogi lawmakers-elect also get certs". Daily Trust. http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18971:-kogi-lawmakers-elect-also-get-certs&catid=18:inside-politics&Itemid=19. Retrieved June 5, 2011. 
11. ^ Radio Nigeria (December 30, 2009). "KOGI Gov calls for constitutional roles for traditional institution". Radio Nigeria Online. http://ww2.radionigeria.gov.ng/frnews-detail.php?ID=453. Retrieved January 27, 2011. 

External links

• Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja official campaign site

Persondata
Name	Ocheja, Emmanuel Dangana
Alternative names	Doga
Short description	Nigerian Senator representing Kogi East in the National Assembly; Lawyer
Date of birth	April 3, 1956
Place of birth	Kogi State
Date of death
Place of death

ACN: Action Congress of Nigeria - ANPP: All Nigeria People's Party - APGA: All Progressives Grand Alliance - CPC: Congress for Progressive Change - DPP Democratic People's Party - LP: Labour Party - PDP: People's Democratic Party

See also Members of the Senate of Nigeria in the 6^th National Assembly (2007-2011)