Bayelsa west: Those campaigning for any candidate from Sagbama for senate are agents of disunity says Dickson’s former special Adviser on scholarship and student welfare.

Barr. Jeremiah Owoupele is a notable youth leader, who has been at the forefront of agitating for a better life for indigenes of his home state Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region.

He once served as spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and an aide to former governor Henry Seriake Dickson (now senator). He is presently an aspirant for the sagbama/ Ekeremor federal constituency seat.

Owoupele who hails from Angalabiri and Ebedebiri communities in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in this interview with Bara Ogidi speaks on the zoning arrangement in Bayelsa West Senatorial District and other issues.

You have been in Ijaw youth council and later became part of government. Your senatorial seat has a history . What can you tell us about it today especially given the present developments.

Thank you Bara Ogidi, I have been an ardent and very absolute member of the ijaw youth council and participated in many events and also became spokesman given my background and ability to speak our position at all times.
Our history has been that of unity and a peaceful disposition to fairness and equity on the two elective offices in the senatorial district .
As you know we were all of same local government area before the creation of Ekeremor hence we view and consider ourselves as one big united family .

As you know or may have read that prior to senator Dickson becoming Governor we have had a shared history where we had created for ourselves a zoning arrangement that alternates the two elective seats so that at every point in time each council area will have the right to be elected to one of the two elective offices in the district . Although, as you know in every enterprise there are those who will always attempt to create discord but the majority will always have their way. Thus even my boss Dickson has had cause at some point to go against the zoning but fate and our collective consciousness ensured that it went to Senator Hieneken Lokpobiri in honour and recognition of it . That being said , when he became Governor he saw and appreciated the beauty of the arrangement and went ahead to cause a meeting to be held where the tenets of that old arrangement was re-enacted and reaffirmed. In that meeting we had members of different political parties subscribe to it as a fair resolve that will engender peace unity and happiness among the two council areas . Today , given that agreement it is the turn of EKEREMOR for SENATE and HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES for SAGBAMA and that is why after consulting with my wife family friends and political associates, am contesting the office as the best candidate for the office .

Did you support zoning in the last Bayelsa West Senatorial Election?

Yes, I supported it. In fact, I was and remain an unrepentant apostle of the zoning arrangement.

Why do you support it?

The reason is very simple. As you may know even in the constitution, our laws talk about fairness and justice. The constitution makes it clear for federal character reflection in civil service employment and appointments.

The idea embedded in that clause is to ensure that every segment is carried along in the spirit of our plurality in a federation. This is essentially why even the PDP and the APC talk about zoning as a vehicle to ensure justice in her decisions in leadership. So to the extent of allowing all sides to have a fair and equitable representation in the National Assembly seats I so subscribe.

Did you campaign for Senator Henry Seriake Dickson? And if yes, was your campaign for him on the strength of zoning?

I believe more than any young man from my senatorial district, I was among those who were very relentless in my determination to have the incumbent senator elected.

Indeed, I campaigned on the strength of an agreement that was given impetus by the incumbent. The incumbent Senator while he reigned as Governor of Bayelsa State ensured that such agreements remain sacrosanct, being the very expression of the peoples’ wishes and aspirations.

This was why he ensured that Senator Ben Murray-Bruce could not get re-elected despite his very high qualifications, even when the party’s national secretariat attempted to persuade the party to re-elect the distinguished senator.

It is rather sad that today after campaigning in all the media houses in this state, writing countless articles in promotion of this time-tested resolve, a few people propelled by their inordinate and selfish desires are attempting to create unnecessary political bickering amongst brothers.

Take note that this is not to downplay the rich resume of the incumbent and his requisite qualifications to be elected a senator of the Red chamber.

It was gathered that the former deputy governor, Rt. Honourable Peremobowei Ebebi who spearheaded the reaffirmation meeting on the said zoning arrangement did not honour it. Does it now render it invalid?

Well, I do not believe the age-long zoning agreement no longer exists because of that. History is replete with such developments but we find its expression in the people’s resolve to always honour it at the polls. There was a time when the late Chief Godwin Bozimo, the incumbent and others from Sagbama also went against it.

These expressions were there before we campaigned on zoning. Don’t also forget that Heineken Lokpobiri also attempted to return a third time against the agreement.

Interestingly, it was Dickson that fought gallantly and ensured that our rotational agreement is maintained by sending Senator Ogola to the Senate to take the turn of Sagbama Local Government Area. The same term the incumbent is completing making a total of eight years as agreed.

What I think should interest people is that in the bye-election that brought the incumbent no one from Ekeremor local government bought form to contest against the incumbent in the PDP party primaries because they believe that it was not her turn but that of Sagbama.

They did not stop there, they also ensured that their son who attempted to breach the agreement lost the election through mass revolt in voting against him. By that singular action, they sent a very strong message in affirming the zoning and he lost his ward and community.

It is necessary to state that Rt. Hon. Ebebi has always won and determined how the votes swing in his ward and community only to the exception of this last one. But this time even his bloodline stood against him. In their words, it was an ill-conceived decision against the peaceful coexistence of two sister local government areas.

The fact remains that our sister local government area council has demonstrated a tenacity to remain faithful to our cause. Their resolve got the incumbent elected and to this, there is no dispute.

It is being reported that Ekeremor people are the ones supporting the incumbent. What is your take on this?

What you must know is that in every community there are villains and dissidents. They are a collect few whose stock in trade is to always attempt to create confusion in the space. These are the ones that have continued to create disharmony in our collective resolve to peaceful elections. Today you will also note that the following persons has all indicated interest to contest for Senate. Hon Fred Agbedi, Hon Donald Daunumugha, Hon cylbriks Obiriki. This again shows that the zoning is in effect .

In all this, what is the position of your principal, Governor Diri?

You must understand that the Governor is focused on delivering in his campaign promises which are now visible to all. The governor knows that in times like this such negative and self-conscious decisions and actions manifest.

Governor Diri is a peaceful man but a man of justice. As the undisputed leader of the party and the state, it is believed that at the right time he will deal with these issues in a most mature manner that will engineer a more robust party relationship. The agreement is not kept in isolation but one known and conscious to all as those of the East senatorial district.

We have read in several quarters that
you are supporting the said zoning agreement because you are contesting?

It’s amazing that such opinions can be opined in this situation. When I was campaigning for the incumbent on all media space relentlessly last year did anyone raise this same issue that I was doing because I want to contest an election? It was capital NO.

What is important and undisputed is that am very qualified to run for any office. Like the incumbent, we all have our aspirations without any deprivation.

With all humility, I am a lawyer and a historian; well educated with many years of public and private experience. I am exposed, vocal and highly knowledgeable. As one who is above forty years, I have the requisite credentials to contest any elections and am running with an objective to give a sound people oriented representation to the good people of sagbama Ekeremor federal constituency.

I am consulting with my Governor and leader of the party as well as critical stakeholders holders.
In the light of the above, it is submitted with the greatest respect that this is a cheap political blackmail.

Would it be wrong for the incumbent to go for a second term?

In my estimation that would be an injustice to the sensibilities and the intelligence of our Ekeremor brothers and allies; an action that will not be accepted by them.

What is fair is fair. We should be very mindful of our decisions, especially one that is very sensitive to our people. You must know that the incumbent contested this election with the cheer belief and knowledge that he would only be completing the unexpired term of the former who became a Deputy governor. Thus in the light of this undisputed reality and given his open and private declarations and attestation , it will be most improper and unethical for him to renege. The justice of this matter demands that he willingly and honorably withdraw from seeking re-election or better still don’t contest .

Is it true that the position of the Deputy Governor will be ceded to Ekeremor LGA to allow Dickson to return to the Senate?

I have no knowledge of such a resolve. But be reminded that the Deputy Governor’s office is not part of the agreement. The Deputy Governor is an exclusive preserve of the Governor to nominate. It was never part of any discussion.

It is believed that ceding the office to Ekeremor at this time will rob Bayelsa West of the advantage of having a ranking lawmaker at the Red Chamber, especially if the leadership of the Senate is zoned to the South-South?

Again, I think this is another calculated misleading information to lure unsuspecting people to fall prey. Let me give an illustration .

It is on record that Senator Akpabio was elected minority leader as a first-time senator ahead of ranking senators. That being said, it’s believed that the Ekeremor people boast of such people with upper chamber legislative experience to be garbed with the cloth of ranking members.

Hon. Fred Agbedi is a ranking member if he is elected to the Senate. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Deacon Enai are all people with cognate experiences. In the light of this reality, that argument is of no significance.

What we need to consider is the unity and peace of the two sister local government areas.

Finally, Do you think the people will stand with your position in enforcing this agreement as seen in the signatures that signed the reaffirmation ?

Bara be assured of victory for zoning . I have said it before that the resolve of our people should not be tested . Ebebi tried it and he saw the BOLD STATEMENT made by his people in rejecting him in all the units in Aleibiri his home community and his colossal loss in all the wards in his local government area. History will repeat itself again .

Thank you Barr JP Owoupele .