Why Okoroma ward 9 deserves Nembe constituency 1 Assembly slot- Spokesman Okoroma voice
By Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa, Trek Africa Newspaper
A political pressure group, Okoroma Voice has canvassed for the zoning of the Nembe constituency One seat in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to Okoroma ward 9.
Spokesman of the group, Dr. J . Ebi in a statement in Yenagoa and made available to newsmen said this has become imperative in view of the fact that zoning the Assembly slot to ward 9 will foster peaceful political co-existence, unity, harmony as well as reduce political tension and violence.
Ebi noted that for the six wards that make up Nembe constituency One it is only ward nine that has not held any elective position before, stating that in the interest of justice, fairness and inclusiveness the Assembly slot be zoned to ward 9.
According to him, Article 7 (2) (c) of the PDP Constitution 2006 as amended make room for the zoning of elective positions in order to promote stability and rekindle a sense of participation and belonging.
He wondered why those political elites from Nembe Kingdom who are opposed to the zoning arrangement are mostly of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP are the same persons who have been the greatest beneficiaries of the principle of zoning, fedetal character and the quota system.
The Spokesman of Okoroma Voice noted that those persons against the zoning of elective positions to every wards in the constituency are agents of distablization, warning that politicians from ward 10 seeking to contest for Assembly are only playing the spoilers role or burying landmines to create political upheaval between ward 9 and ward 10.His words:
” In Nembe Local Government Area, this issue of zoning has been subjected to hotly debates, and so far, the political elites working so hard to disrupt zoning arrangement are the greatest beneficiaries of the principles of zoning, federal character and quota system which has sustained the exercise of equity, justice and fairness in the Kingdom.
Worse still, is the fact that, these same political elites who are working against the principle of zoning in Nembe LGA are mostly members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and their attitude towards the issue of zoning makes one wonder if they have forgotten Article 7 (2) (c) of the PDP Constitution 2006 as Amended.
” Article 7 (2) (c) of the PDP Constitution 2006 as Amended states that “In pursuance of the principle of equity, Justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by appropriate executive committee at all levels”.
” The PDP constitution envisaged the fact that, the disruption of zoning, an arrangement that has fostered stability and rekindled a sense of participation and belonging in Nembe, will be in bad faith. And the questions still remain, who are the targets of the emergency anti-zoning crusaders? What is the sole motivation? Why are certain elements posing as if they have the key of Nembe in their pockets?.
” To put the records straight, in Nembe constituency one, there are six wards, comprising OGBOLOMAINBIR ward 1,OGBOLOMAINBIRI ward 2, OGBOLOMAINBIRI ward 3, IGBETA-EWOAMA ward 8, OKOROMA ward 9 and OKOROMA ward 10. And in the past ten years, all the wards have produced an elected office except Okoroma ward 9.
” According to records, from 2012 to 2020, Ogbolomainbiri ward 3 produced Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd) as Deputy Governor, 2013 to 2016 Okoroma ward 10 produced Bioghoemi Eminah as Chairman of Nembe Local Government Area and 2010 to 2012 Okoroma ward 10 produced Kenneth Jonah as Vice Chairman of Nembe LGA.
” Others are Hon. Jonathan Obuebite, member of the House of Assembly from Ogbolomainbiri ward 1, 2007 to 2015, Ogbolomainbiri 2 produced Chief Bright Erewari Igbeta as member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 and Hon. Ebi Opolo from Igbeta-Ewoama ward 8 is serving as member of the state assembly from 2015-till date.
“In view of the trajectory of the elective political office holders of Nembe constituency one, any politician seeking for an elective office from Okoroma ward 10 is just playing the spoiler role or burying landmines to create political upheaval among the Okoroma ward 9 and 10 “
