Bayelsa Assembly Candidate Decries marginalisation In Sagbama Constituency 2

Ahead of the 2023 Bayelsa State House of Assembly elections for Sagbama Constituency 2, the candidate of the BOOT Party, Deacon Felix Wilson, has decried what he described as the unwarranted marginalisation of Ward 10, since the inception of democracy in 1999.

Deacon Felix Wilson who hails from Sagbama Ward 10 in Sagbama Constituency 2, noted with deep concern, that while each of the other wards that make up Sagbama Constituency 2, namely Wards 6, 11 and 12 have all produced Honourable members of the house in previous elections, Ward 10 which is the headquarters of the Constituency, had not been given the chance to produce an elected legislator till date.

A statement by the Director, Media and Strategic Communications of his Campaign Council, Mr Famous Obebi Famous, noted that Deacon Wilson made the observation in Yenagoa on Wednesday, while reeling out the bizarre statistics to newsmen.

He said from 1999 to 2003, Honourable Enein Ebiakpor from Ward 12 served as the duly elected representative, followed by Honourable Agagowei Bright from Ward 6 who represented the constituency from 2003 to 2007.

Speaking further, Deacon Felix Wilson disclosed that from  2007 to 2015, His Excellency, Right Honourable Nestor Binabo from Ward 11 who served two terms, represented the constituency in the honourable house, while the incumbent, Honourable  Bernard Kenibai is from Ward 12 and has, so far, also served two terms from 2015 till date.

He remarked that a simple analysis showed that Ward 10, headquarters of Sagbama Constituency 2, had been conspicuously left out of the political equation, noting that what was even more painful was the fact that so far, Ward 12 had done a total of three tenures in the hallowed chambers while Wards 11 and Ward 6 had each done two tenures and a single tenure respectively.

Against this backdrop, the BOOT Party candidate, therefore, queried the rationale and moral justification for the incumbent legislator, Honourable  Bernard Kenibai of Ward 12, to throw his hat into the ring for the umpteenth time, when his ward had already done three tenures.

He said democracy was about justice, equity, fairplay and the rule of law with everyone considered equal and given equal opportunity before the law, and, therefore, wondered why some persons through their conduct, appeared to be attempting to lord it over others in the Constituency.

Deacon Felix Wilson who commended His Excellency, Rt Honourable Nestor Binabo for his excellent performance, however, asserted that Sagbama Constituency 2 had always been united in working to elect credible representatives for the sustainable development of the area, but regretted that some of the members so far elected, had performed woefully, and lacked the moral gravitas to even look into the eyes of the people they claim to represent, not to talk of contesting the 2023 elections.

Deacon Felix Wilson observed that in each election year, Ward 10 which boasts of the largest bloc votes, working pari passu with other wards in the constituency, had undeniably played significant roles in ensuring victory at the polls for several candidates.

He noted that the interest and development of the constituency was over and above the parochial interests of any individual, political party or group, stressing that the litmus test was that the coming elections would not be about political parties but about the quality, acceptability and credibility of fielded candidates.

The BOOT Party flagbearer for Sagbama Constituency 2, therefore, appealed to the conscience of all well meaning persons of Sagbama constituency 2, to give Ward 10 the chance to produce the next honourable member who will represent the constituency in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, in the interest of justice, equity, equality and fairplay.

Signed:

Famous Obebi Famous

Director, Media and Strategic Communications