Delta 2023: Stakeholders Write PDP Over Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency Seat Rotation,
By Ezekiel Kagbala (Ughelli)
Stakeholders of Bomadi/Patani chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed their support for the Nigeria's longest-serving legislator Hon. Nicholas Mutu to contest the 2023 House of Representatives seat for 7th term in Delta State.
This was contained in an open letter made available to FocalPoint Reports on Wednesday, March 30th 2022, addressed to the National Chairman, of PDP, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu and the State's party leadership.
The statement said that there was no agreed mode of rotation and zoning of the House of Representatives seat in Bomadi / Patani Federal Constituency, adding that, It has always been open for contest.
They also disclosed that Mutu has made up his mind not to contest the Bomadi/Patani House of Representatives seat after 2023, stating further that have already informed traditional rulers and political leaders of both Local Government Areas and would not renege on this agreement.
The letter came as response to a petition challenging the seventh term bid of the longest serving Lawmaker, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, to contest the 2023 election for seventh term in office.
Some Stakeholders who signed the response letter includes Hon. Ayakeme Karuna, Abonima Obale, Barr. Fun-Ororo Narenor, Mr. Kenneth Ebitomo, Stanley Deinanagha. They stated that, "Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu clinched victory in all elections that he contested due to the general acceptability he enjoyed from his constituents
FocalPoint Reports gathered that Apart from his record-making stay in parliament for over 20 years, Mutu, who represents the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in Delta State, Between 2009 till date has chaired the house committee responsible for oversight of the federal agency, Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.
Below is a copy of the letter
The National Chairman,
Peoples Democratic Party,Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5,Abuja.
Sir, RE: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, (PDP) SEN. IYORCHIA AYU SEVENTH TERM AMBITION OF RT. HON. NICHOLAS EBOMO MUTU (MEMBER REPRESENTING BOMADI/PATANI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY FROM 1999-2023 (24 YEARS)
We the undersigned would have ignored the purported open letter addressed to you currently circulating in the social media but wish to respond and put record straight for the sake of posterity.
Most of the assertions made in the purported open letter are mostly false and misleading. It is ludicrously laughable when the so called authors of the purported open letter stated that it is on record that in 2003, the party leadership prevailed and allowed Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu to do a second term even when he lost the primaries to an indigene of Patani. Where is the record and who are those in the party leadership that prevailed and allowed Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu to do a second term? We believe all these questions cannot be answered. It is more or less a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
Chairman Sir, there has never been anytime an accord or agreement was undertaken by Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu to support a candidate from Patani L.G.A. for House of Reps in 2011. It is clear even to the blind that our Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu clinches victory in all the elections he contested because of the general acceptability he has from his constituents. He is no doubt the longest-serving parliamentarian. He is a quintessential law maker and a political juggernaut who is doing creditably well and that has endeared him to the hearts to his constituents.
Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu is usually been urged to seek re-election based on his pedigree and competence and has been winning elections due to his overwhelming performance in the areas of infrastructural development and human empowerment and has never been imposed on the electorate any day. On the issue of rotation, it is another fallacy that the PDP in Delta State has rotated the Federal Legislative seats in other Federal Constituencies in accordance with chapter 1, Section 7, Paragraph 3 (C) of the PDP constitution as amended. Elections were generally conducted and contested and not based on rotation.
It will interest Mr. Chairman to know that there has never been any time aspirants from Patani L.G.A. have not shown interest and contested to clinch the Bomadi/Patani House of Representatives Seat. Rotation simply is the passing of a privilege or responsibility to each member of a group in a regularly recurring order. With the aforesaid definition, has the Patani people ever passed the power to clinch the House of Representatives seat willingly without contest? The answer is No.
It will also interest you to know Mr. Chairman, that Rt. Hon. Basil Ganagana no doubt is the sponsor of this open letter and he was in the House of Assembly, Delta State for 4 tenures (16 years) wherein he became the Deputy Speaker and Speaker and also contested for the 5th term but lost. Where is the equity, justice and fairness when he occupied the Patani Constituency Seat that consist of three clans; Kabowei, Kumbowei and Tarakiri clan for 16 years without rotation to Kabowei and Tarakiri Clan. It is trite, that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. In as much as chapter 1, Section 7, Subsection 3 (C) of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended says we should adhere to the policy of the rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, it is unenforceable since there is no agreed mode of rotation and zoning of the House of Representatives seat in Bomadi / Patani Federal Constituency. It has always been open for contest. It would have been reasonable and understandable if the so called sponsored authors of the purported open letter had pushed or clamoured for the rotation and zoning of the Bomadi / Patani Federal Constituency seat after 2023 and not call for Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu not to contest 2023 with the wrong notion that it is the turn of Patani L.G.A. Has it ever been the turn of Bomadi L.G.A? The answer is still NO.
Chairman Sir, Rt. Hon. Basil Ganagana should concentrate on how he can win the primary election through constitutional means and stop casting aspersion and using abusive languages on party leaders through his surrogates. It is also to be noted that the sponsored signatories of the purported open letter are Civil Servants and not party members. Specifically, Chief Dafeta Thursday is from Ebedebiri Community in Bayelsa State but works with the Local Government Service Commission, Delta State. Barr. Ese Dick is not a known name in Patani L.G.A. Chief Mary Ann Okoro is also a Civil Servant in the Delta State Local Government Service Commission and Hon. Jonathan Bright Oweikeyi has vehemently denied knowledge of the purported letter.
Chairman Sir, since it is the legitimate right of elected lawmakers to seek re-election, we hereby pass a vote of confidence on Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu to re-contest and urged you and all well meaning stakeholders of our dear party to discountenance the purported open letter as it is highly frivolous, vexatious, fallacious, spurious and see it as the pitiable handiwork of unsuccessful and frustrated detractors who are always in fear of failure. It is also pertinent to bring to your notice that Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu has made up his mind not to contest the Bomadi/Patani of Representatives seat after 2023 and have already informed traditional rulers and political leaders of both L.G.A. and would not renege on this agreement. It is therefore our stand that a free, credible and fair election be conducted for whoever that has bought forms. Rt. Hon. Basil Ganagana should also take note that he has had a fair share and would not also be allowed to contest after 2023.
Thanks and Godbless.
Long Live PDP
Long Live Delta State Long Live Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency
Signed:
HON. AYAKEME KARUNA _____________________
HON. ABONIMA OBALE _____________________
BARR. FUN-ORORO NAREBOR _____________________
MR. KENNETH EBITONMO ____________________
MR. STANLEY DEINANAGHA _____________________
CC:
1) The Executive Governor, Delta State.
2) South-South Zonal Vice Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party.
3) State Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Delta State.
4) Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Patani L.G.A.
