Bayelsa Council Poll: Ogbia Chairmanship Shouldn’t be for Patronage, Says Group

The Ogbia Development and Progressives Congress (ODPC), says the forthcoming local council election in Bayelsa is another litmus test for people of Ogbia kingdom to get the right set of leaders at the grassroots.

It said based on empirical evidence, Ogbia remains the most underdeveloped local government area out of the existing eight because of the way and manner successive chairmen were selected.

The group in a statement said, to correct the mistake of the past and take Ogbia out of its current backwardness, the next chairman of the council must not be a thing of political patronage, else it will be another three years of remarkable ineptitude.

In the statement signed by the group’s Spokesman, Ofoni Robert, it said for an area that has produced great leaders like the late Melford Okilo, and former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Ogbia truly deserved the best.

The group therefore appealed to Governor Douye Diri and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to fall for the antics of the
so-called powerbrokers but settle for a credible person with proven track record of performance in order to bring the needed development to Ogbia.

It said: “Ogbia LGA that gave Nigeria its first oil in commercial quantity in 1956 is in dire need of development anchored on pragmatic leadership. That’s why the forthcoming LGA election in Bayelsa State slated for April as announced by BYSIEC is very important as it will afford Governor Douye Diri and the PDP the opportunity to look inwards and settle for a candidate with the right leadership qualities to advance the cause of development in Ogbia.

“It is important that Governor Douye Diri does not pander to sentiments to hand over the LGA to shameless political leaders in the name of God fathers who will in turn hand over the LGA to their minions and cronies as elected Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councilors just for the single purpose of rent seeking which for years has been the loss of the LGA.

“The level of under development in Ogbia LGA over the years is as a result of the overbearing influence of these so-called God fathers who use the treasury of the LGA to fund their personal lifestyle and engage in all manner of frivolous social activities”.

The group also listed some of the qualities they think the next chairman should possess to include, a strong political will so as to tackle the issue of crime and criminality, cultism, sea-piracy, kidnapping, and other social vices.

They said: “Ogbia needs a Chairman that will go round all communities in the LGA to ascertain their challenges and constantly engage with the people to address those challenges. A chairman that has capacity to collaborate with IOC’s to engage the youths and provide employment across the various communities in the LGA

“A chairman that will not plunder the treasury and IGR of the council but rather use it to benefit the people. And most importantly, a chairman who will be resident in the LGA as his presence will cub insecurity and he will be physically present to attend to issues in the council”.

The statement furrher said “Governor Douye Diri must do well to allow the people elect a chairman of their choice who must be fearless, God fearing, development oriented and with a track record of performance in public office.

“He or she must be one who is committed to the welfare of the people at all times. A core party man with a track record of supporting the party in winning elections for the PDP at all times”.

According to the group, having zoned the position to Constituency 2, were it ought to be, they are equally appealing to the governor and leaders of the PDP to x-ray all the aspirants who have indicated interest to contest for the office of the Chairman and pick the right person, who had at all times delivered his polling unit for the party.

The group said “since the office is zoned to Ayama axis, the governor should support only the aspirant who won his polling unit, community and atleast ward for both 2019 and 2023 Gubernatorial elections for him. It should be support for support.

“From our findings a number of the aspirants worked for the APC in the 2019 and 2023 gubernatorial elections. They failed in their various polling units and communities. The results are there to show as evidence”.

Explaining more its position, the group noted that for the sake of equity, fairness and justice, the PDP should give consideration to Ward 5 for the chairman of the LGA, saying all the other wards have produced chairman in the past.

“Ward 2 have produced Late Barr. Opukumo, Ward 3, Late Engr I D Rex Ogbuku and Late T B Oruama. While Ward 4 have produced Late Hon Samuel Boy.
“So, it is glaring that it is only Ward 5 that is left.