Ibusa Youths President
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]rums of political war are being beaten within Oshimili North local Government area of Delta State over the perceived undemocratic actions of the Oshimili North Leaders, on the recent hand-picking of candidates aganist the wish of the people for the forthcoming local government election in the Delta state. It was gathered that every other local government in the state ( even Gov. Okowa’s LGA) conducted primaries to select the preferred candidates but the oshimili North leaders decided to hand-picked candidates again for the local government election .This has sent very bad signals throughout the LGA as tension is rising which, if not addressed urgently , it will affect the chances of PDP in Oshimili North come 2019, as the people can nolonger allow the imposition of candidates again. ,The PDP leaders of oshimili North should conduct a free and free primaries like other local government councils in Delta State, why is it that PDP elections in oshimili North local government can never be democratic ( free and fair) like others. Governor Okowa should keep to the promise he made to the people of Delta State that the forthcoming local government primaries election must be free and fair and that PDP will not allow any imposition of candidates again.The Grassroots Publishers online National Secretary and the Publisher of Delta Digest had one on one chat with the Ibusa Youths President ,Comrade Isoh Alfred concerning the recent imposition of candidates in Oshimili North LGA for the forthcoming Local Government election by PDP leaders, Sir Alfred Isoh who is a Master’s Degree holder in Economics and the Okwulagwe Igbuzor urged the youths to remain calm and law-abiding pending the intervention of the powers that be. excerpt:
Sir, What can you say about the political tension in Oshimili LGA concerning the imposition of candidates in the forthcoming LGA election by PDP Leaders ?
Thank you very much, The constant hand-picking of candidates against the wishes of the people at all levels in Oshimili North local Government has led to very slow rate of development across the communities despite the big names we have in Delta politics that abound within the local government area. Alot of youths came to me complaining that there were no primaries in the wards across Oshimili North LGA, that the candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were hand-picked and that a lot of the aspirants who fall within the youth age bracket that were disenfranchised has more potentials than those hand-picked.This is sending bad signals already as lot of the youths are not happy and this action might affect PDP in the coming election. It is better for the leadership of PDP to look into the matter now and go back to conduct primaries in Oshimili North.
The PDP leaders culture of hand-picking candidates against the wishes of the people has been the bane of the local government and the regular crisis that usually ensured in every election. most of the councilors and chairman that was hand-picked in the last LG election that represented our various wards performed poorly far below the expectations of the people. At the end of the day the same PDP leaders want hand-pick them back again on the ground that they did not make money,automatically they are drawing the community backwards because their best candidate are not represent them and that is why oshimili North LGA is behind other local government in Delta State. Imposing people against the wishes of the masses will always cause crisis and it it is one of the main reasons that made PDP to lose the last general election to opposition in Nigeria.I can assure you that if PDP continue to impose candidates against the wish of the people in Delta State, opposition may surprise them in the next election.
If the youths cannot talk as youths of today and leaders are still short-changing them , when are they going to talk? I am sure the party in power want to lose the local government area to opposition. Meanwhile,The Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa specifically warned against hand-picking of candidates. He instructed that all aspirants should be given a level playing ground to contest any elections. Then, why should Oshimili North PDP primaries be different from other local governments? If this undemocratic process of selecting the people’s representatives in the local government is allowed to stand without reverting to proper conduct of primaries this time, then, the Governor has reneged on his words and PDP will pay the price in the next election in Delta State
Comrade Sir, what is your stand and advise to the Youths?
‘I advise the youths to remain calm and law-abiding let those in position of authority who can talk to the government act urgently , so that peace and development can reign supreme. we will forward our own reports to Gov. Okowa to let him know that Oshimili North LGA has not conducted their own primaries , so that he can order our leaders to conduct primaries across the local government for all contestants to avoid dividing the youths and losing supporters, because our people are wiser now , the era of naming writing and election rigging is over now.our leaders should try and do things in the right ways to keep a positive legacy for the generations unborn.
Comrade ,have you reached the leaders of PDP concerning this negative imposition of candidates in your LGA?
‘As the Youths Leader, I will try to reach our leaders soon and advise them to allow free and fair participation of all. We are all brothers and sisters. If you win, fine! Next time the loser may win. Don’t deny anybody the opportunity to contest by hand-picking or name writing as this may have very serious negative consequences on the politics of the local government, because we can no longer accept further imposition of any candidates again in Oshimili North LGA by leaders.
Sir,if after your complains and petitions to the Governor and PDP Leaders and they refused to conduct free and fair primaries , what will happen?
We are law- abiding citizens, if the our leaders still stand on imposing candidates aganist the wish of our people , If this undemocratic process of selecting the people’s representatives in the local government is allowed to stand without reverting to proper conduct of primaries this time, then, the Governor has reneged on his words, i can assure you that it will affect the party and the people will use their power(VOTE)although some of our leaders still believe in the past of rigging election by short-changing the people authority , they should wake up because will will happen again because every vote in Ibusa will sure count this time .But i still that believe that Gov. Okowa who became the governor of Delta State through free and fair primary election will not allow this this undemocratic process of selecting the people’s representatives in Oshimili North local government to stand. We therefore, call on the Governor and our PDP leaders in Oshimili North to ensure that proper primaries are conducted in Oshimili North as it was done in his own local government to avoid the crisis that is brewing now.
BY: TONY OKWNEBE
Publisher – Delta Digest
Secretary , Grassroots Publishers