As Local Government polls come closer, the District Communities in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State said that it is their turn to produce the next executive chairman of the council. They stated that no amount of threats will force them to drop their demand.
This was made known in a meeting held recently 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, adding that it is not negotiable of the district producing chairman in 2015.
Speaking, the leader of PDP Ward 16, Bille kingdom, High Chief Bebe Jacob 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. “It is a do or die affair. We must have it,” High Chief Bebe said.
“We don’t need to be biased, 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 Degema District Communities to give us the next chairman”, High Chief Bebe 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 Chief Pakaye Elekima (Ward 15 Bukuma) maintained that the people of District have resolved to throw their weight behind the District communities to produce a chairman of the Degema Local Government Area.
Chief Elekima who is also a frontline politician in Bukuma community said that other communities have 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?”
Elekima described the situation as worrisome, 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 Hon. Abel Sokari 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,” Abel said.
Hon. Abel, who is a chieftain of PDP in Atala community pleaded with politicians in the LGA to support the urgent call for a council chairman from the District Communities.
In his response, Comrade (Engr.) Igbarima Alex Fubara 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 Fubara 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.
In their separate speeches, Mrs. U.G. Gabriel Akaniwo (Usokwu Ward 13) and Comrade Olobo Harry (Obuma Ward 14), said that there is no going back in the demand for the zoning of the council chairmanship to the District communities, “we must get it, no matter the manipulation, because God must fight for us.” ###
