Hundreds of youths from Toru-Orua community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State at the weekend staged a peaceful rally, urging political leaders and stakeholders in Sagbama Constituency one to uphold the long-standing rotational arrangement for the State House of Assembly seat.
The demonstrators, numbering over 100, marched through major streets of the community with placards bearing inscriptions such as “Equity, Fairness, Justice,” and “Respect the Rotation,” insisting that the existing turn-by-turn formula has been instrumental in sustaining peace and unity among the six constituent communities.
The youth president of the community,
Comrade Fanibia Adidatimi Wisdom who led the rally noted that since the return to democratic rule in 1999, the rotational policy has ensured inclusiveness and balanced representation across the constituency.
According to him, four out of the six communities have already produced representatives, leaving only Angiama and Toru-Orua yet to occupy the seat.
He argued that in line with the principles of equity and natural justice, political parties preparing for the 2027 general elections should restrict their candidates to the two remaining communities and particularly Toru-Orua.
Delivering an address at the palace of the Amananaowei of Toru-Orua His Royal Highness G.F Tounaregha, the youth president emphasised that the rotational arrangement was deliberately structured along community lines by visionary leaders, rather than by political wards as being canvassed in some quarters.
He urged the traditional ruler to use the influence of his stool to caution against attempts by anyone to reinterpret the arrangement to suit narrow political interests, as that he said may cause unnecessary political upheaval in the constituency.
Wisdom also used the opportunity to commend past and the present representative of the constituency, including Chief O.O. Osusu, Hon. Timi Fanama, Dr. Peter Akpe, and the incumbent lawmaker Dr. Godbless Onyuike, for their contributions to the development of the area.
He, however, stressed the need for a more dynamic and people-oriented representation in 2027, noting that the constituency requires a vibrant, competent and professionally grounded individual who understands the aspirations of the people, particularly the youth population.
The youth president equally used the occasion to call for peaceful political engagement as the election approaches, emphasizing that elections will come and go but the community remains and also charged stakeholders, politicians and their supporters to avoid actions capable of triggering tension or division within the constituency.
He said: “The rotational policy was conceived by forward-thinking leaders who prioritised unity, fairness and stability in the constituency. It was never based on wards but on communities. Any attempt to distort this arrangement is driven by ignorance and selfish ambition.
“Our constituency deserves a representative who is in tune with modern realities and committed to advancing the collective interests of our people. We are ready to support any credible candidate from Toru-Orua or Angiama who fits this description and for us, we believe this is our turn. We have stood by all other communities when it was their turn and so we call on them to return the favor because one good turn deserves another.
“Politics should not be seen as a do-or-die affair. It is a contest of ideas, not a battlefield. We must preserve the peace and unity that have defined our constituency over the years.”
He further appealed to youth groups in other communities within the constituency to align with the demand for the sustenance of the rotational principle, describing it as a tested mechanism for fairness, stability and inclusive governance.
In his repsonse the Amananaowei of Toru-Orua, HRH Tounaregha, commended the youths for going about their request in a peaceful and orderly manner.
While acknowledging their agitation as genuine, the traditional ruler however noted that the choice of flag bearers is exclusive of political parties but in the interest of peace and harmony the parties and their drivers should maintain what has been the norm.
Also, the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr Odogwu Vincent, commended the youths for not being violent in their approach and assured them that he would help amplify their voices for the status quo in the constituency to be upheld.
