OGUNAME/OPHORIGBALA COMMUNITIES ALLEGE MARGINALIZATION IN OKPARE-OLOMU WARD 6
Oghenetejiri Nyerhovwo
As political activities gear up towards the forthcoming local government elections, the people of Oguname and Ophorigbala communities of Olomu Kingdom in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, have cried out over what they consider as lingering political lopsidedness and marginalization by the people of Okpare-Olomu with whom they share one Ward.
They argued that they be given the chance to produce the Ward’s next councilor considering the fact that Okpare-Olomu produce Senator Emmanuel Aguarivwodo, Hon. Talib Tebite, current member, DTHA and Hon. Stella Ogigba, vice chairman, Transition Committee, Ughelli South LGA.
In a statement made available to National Reformer, Oguname-Olomu Politcal Forum (OOPF) signed by Mr.Justice Etabuko, Public Relations Officer of the group that is in the fore front of the struggle for the alleged oppressed communities alleged that all elective and appointive political offices ranging from Councillor, Commissioner, House of Assembly Member, NDDC Managing Director, Personal Assistants, Board Chairmen to the Vice Chairman of the present Transition Committee of Ughelli South are all from Okpare Community.
According to him, the Oguname and Ophorigbala communities which share a large unit with Okpare Community have not only been very supportive of Okpare since 1999 but contributed meaningfully to the political system and successes of the PDP in the Ward, which has and is going a long way to determine the level of political patronage coming to the Ward which have been in the hands of the Okpare people all these years.
According to Mr. Etabuko, “It is worthy of note that the Oguname/Ophorigbala’s single Unit produced 624 votes which is over 100% as against 1,400 votes produced by the 5 Units in Okpare which is less than 50% for the PDP in the Senate Bye-election of late last year.”
Mr. Etabuko disclosed that Oguname/Ophorigbala people in the spirit of brotherliness approached Okpare in a dialogue to be given the slightest opportunity to produce the next councilor which Okpare people assured they will positively consider, adding, “only to discover to our utmost dismay that Okpare have not only encouraged their son to again purchase PDP form for the October 2014 Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) organised Local Government elections but mobilizing seriously to ensure that their son emerges councilor in spite of the pleas.”
He stated that, the people of Oguname/Okporigbala are of the opinion that while Okpare have more units and voting majority which they bank upon to intimidate the other communities in the Ward, the contributions of Oguname and Ophorigbala to the fortunes of the PDP in the Ward cannot be overemphasized, he added, “and so considers the current moves by Okpare people as an affront and a calculated attempt to continue to marginalize, dominate, oppress and sideline the other communities that makes up the Ward.”
Mr. Etabuko spoke further, “we therefore use this medium to call on Olorogun Sir Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Senator Representing Delta Central, Olorogun Sir Taleb Tebite, Member representing Ughelli South Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly and Hon. Stella Ogigba, Vice Chairman, Transition Committee, Ughelli South LGA all of who are from Okpare Community to immediately look into this case of gross marginalization/political imbalance and proffer a redress by conceding the Councillorship to the Oguname/Ophorigbala axis this time around.”
