As Local Government polls come closer, the District Communities in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have declared that it is their turn to produce the next executive chairman of the council.
This was made known in a meeting organized by the Concerned Citizens of DELGA in Port Harcourt on Monday. The group said that towns and villages in the LGA have been producing council chairmen in the Degema Local Government Area, except the District communities.
Speaking, the chairman of the group, Comrade Ipalibo Iboroma declared that for the purposes of justice and equity, the District Communities should be allowed to produce the chairman of Delga in the next political dispensation.
“We don’t need to be biased, I am an indigene of Bakana and Bakana community has produced two elected chairmen namely: Hon. Pleasant Mpakabuari Braide who ruled from December 1998-2001 and Hon. Tony Philimore ruled from 2004-2007. So there is need for District Communities to give us the next chairman”, Comrade Iboroma said. He noted that it would be tantamount to injustice and marginalization if a chance is not given to the District Communities to produce the next executive chairman of Delga.
In his speech the Vice Chairman of the association, Hon. Ibiso Abbey maintained that the members of the Concerned Citizens of Delga have resolved to throw their weight behind the District communities to produce a chairman of the Degema Local Government Area.
Hon. Abbey who is also a frontline politician in Tombia community said that his community has produced so many chairmen both elected and Caretaker Committees (CTCs).
According to him, “Chief Hon. Dr. Ombo Benibo was appointed a chairman of CTC in 2004, adding that another Tombia son namely Chief Abiye Davies became a CTC chairman and shortly after that he emerged as the elected chairman of the Degema Local Government Area. Now as I am speaking to you, Hon. Daddy Ibigoni Pokima, the current chairman of Delga is also from Tombia community. So what do they want again?”
Hon. Abbey described the situation as pathetic, and demanded for equity by allowing someone from the District Communities to emerge as a council chairman.
He further recalled that two other Tombia indigenes who are Chief Betterland H. Davies and Chief Ibifiri Obu Dennis have ruled Degema LGA.
Also speaking the secretary of the organization, Mr. Fred Harry pointed out that the District Communities have contributed immensely to the development of the Degema LGA, saying that for fairness and brotherliness the next council chairman of Degema LGA must come from the District Communities. He added by saying that any attempt to marginalize the District communities in the forthcoming council polls, it would have a negative impact on the LGA. “What we want is fair play,” Mr. Harry said.
Mr. Harry, who is a chieftain of PDP in Obuama community pleaded with politicians in the LGA to support the urgent call for a council chairman from the District Communities.
In his response, the Public Relations Officer, (PRO) of the group, Comrade Belema Obele, who is also a native of Bukuma community, averred that, no matter the situation or twist, it is the turn of the District Communities to field someone that will be incharge of Degema LGA.
“Other communities should relax. Let us allow the District to have it this time around. Because it is their turn”, Comrade Obele said.
According to him the District is made up of eight (8) communities namely: Old Bakana, Ke, Bille, Bukuma.
Others are Obuama, Usokun, Atala and Degema consulate.
He appealed to all the registered political parties to zone the council chairmanship slot to the District Communities, so as to give them a sense of belonging.###
