…Allow Us Produce Councilor
Leaders and members of the People Democratic Party PDP, in Ophori-Olomu Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have lamented what they described as gross marginalization, suppression and deprivation from benefiting from what belong to all.
Reacting to a statement credited to a prominent leader in the DSIEC Okpare-Olomu Ward 8, informing them that the Governor has directed that the councillorship position be given to a female PDP member from Okpare-Olomu, leaders of the party in the community said, it is a clear case of oppression and suppression of a particular area in the Ward 8.
Mr. Saturday Esi, Chairman of the party in the community stated that, “Since the creation of the DSIEC Okpare-Olomu Ward 8, which comprises of Okpare-Olomu, Oguname-Olomu, Ophorigbala-Olomu and Ophori-Olomu, we have never been considered for the councillorship position.
“We have been faithful members and have work and supported the party at every elections and we are still committed.
“For instance, Okpare-Olomu has produced Hon. Stephen Asheshe, Hon. Dennis Obodje before it went to Oguname-Olomu. When we came out to contest with Hon. Oghenetejiri Okoro, Hon. Olorogun Sir, Taleb Tebite waded in by promising us that Ophori-Olomu will be considered in the next election. The next election came, same Hon. Olorogun Taleb Tebite again projected Hon. Tejiri for a second term making him to represent the Ward twice, and categorically, Hon. Taleb, stated that in the next election, we, the Ophori-Olomu people will produce the councilor.
“Now, we thought he will keep to his words and promises, and rationally thinking, Ophori-Olomu is suppose to produce the next councilor. But we were shocked when Hon. Olorogun Taleb Tebite broke the news to us again that our candidate should step down from the race as the Governor has directed that councillorship position be given to a female from Okpare-Olomu.Â
“I must confess that we are bittered and pained, and this to us, is a clear case of oppression and total neglect of Ophori community in the Ward. To set the record straight, I believe we all are bonafide members of the Ward and have contributes immensely to the victory of every elections in the Ward both state and federal wards, but look at Okpare-Olomu community, you could see they have been favoured in different areas. We are not envious of them, but you could see that the Senior Political Adviser to the Governor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo is from Okpare-Olomu, Chief Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, Chairman Board of Directors, Delta Printing and Publishing Company is from there, Olorogun Sir, Taleb Tebite, Executive Director Project, DESOPADEC is from there too. Last but not the least, the immediate past local government chairman, Dr. Richard Kofi is also from Okpare-Olomu, all these are good and also benefits from the party. Now if you take the councilor to Okpare-Olomu, it means, every other community in the Ward 8 are just nothing but appendages”.
Also speaking, the PDP youth leader and Woman leader in Ophori community, Mr. Simon Aaron and Mrs. Christiana Epia respectively,
also expressed their bitterness and mis-feeling on the way they are been treated by the party leaders in the Ward, and called on the party chairman, Olorogun Kingsley Esiso, and all other party leaders both at the local government and the state level to consider their plight and give them sense of belonging, adding that they have qualified members who have also contested severally.
“We are not going to fight over it, but we will meet the relevant authority and explain to them to see the need and reasons why it should be our turn to produce the councilor, and we believe it would be resolved internally”.