Bayelsa East Stakeholders, groups pass vote of confidence on Senator Degi-Eremienyo . Endorsed him for a second tenure

 By Austin Genesis

Ahead of 2023 general elections, Stakeholders of Bayelsa East Senatorial District comprising Ogbia, Brass and Nembe local government areas of Bayelsa state at a stakeholders meeting on Friday, including members of renowned development-oriented Organizations, have passed a vote of confidence on the Senator representing area at the National Assembly (NASS), Senator Biobarakuma W. Degi-Eremienyo.

Senator Biobarakuma W. Degi-Eremienyo.

 The vote of confidence passed on him was in recognition of his exceptional performance and effectively representing the senatorial district through people-oriented motions/ bills besides developmental projects that directly impact positively on the constituents, as well evenly distributed.

To this end, the Forum and the stakeholders unanimously endorsed him for a second tenure and call on him to re-contest the 2023 senatorial elections to continue his selfless services to the people.

In a-sixteen-point communique signed by fourteen members including Engineer Numoipre Wills (representing Nembe local government area), Dr Tonye Okio (Ogbia LGA) and High Chief (Rtd Major) Inikio Sele-Dede (Brass LGA) says the decision of calling on Senator Degi-Eremienyo to re-contest is not against the zoning spirit but to ensure the senatorial district produces ranking member in the 10th senate to hold key positions and attract more development by the Grace of Almighty God to the senatorial district.

 The communique notes that this arrangement replaces the previous single term zoning and after Degi-Eremienyo's second term, Ogbia takes over for her two terms and then to Brass to ensure fairness. This according to the communique is done with a clear conscience and devoid of partisan political undertones, believing that this is in the best interest of the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

Meanwhile, a group under the auspices of United Bayelsa East Senatorial District Forum (UBESDF) across party lines, has also called on Senator Biobarakuma W. Degi-Eremienyo to re-contest the seat at the 2023 polls to represent the senatorial district for another four years.

The call was contained in a statement jointly signed by High Chief (Rtd Major) Inikio Sam Sele-Dede,  Hon. Ayebakuro Nelson and (Dr) Amalanyo Yousuo, all from of Brass local government area among several others as members of United Bayelsa East Senatorial District Forum (UBESDF) across party lines.

According to the statement the group called on the senator to re-contest on over what they described as setback caused the three Local Government Areas that constitute the area by a hitherto one-term rotation arrangement.

The indigenes who were largely youths backed up their stand as to why Senator Degi-Eremienyo should continue described the earlier zoning arrangement as self-inflicted injury, calling for urgent review.

“We, nevertheless, wish to address the realities of the self-inflicted injury and hereby call for an adjustment since only change is in itself permanent.

“The non-return of a Senator from our District has denied us the opportunity of having ranking senators who can occupy notable offices in the Senate,” the group said.

They said they did not understand from the outset that the rotational arrangement to mean that the seat must shift to another local government at each and every election, stressing that the performance of a sitting senator and the tradition of ‘ranking’ in the senate are facts that must be considered.

“We believe that a senator who has distinguished himself or herself as a true representative of all the three local government areas deserves at least a second tenure before ceding the candidacy to the next local government area.

“Senator Degi-Eremienyo has truly proven that a Senator can indeed attract and facilitate impactful developmental projects and programmes to all the LGAs that make up the district.

“He has, in his sponsorship of motions and bills as well as sundry contributions on the floor of the Senate, shown that he represents Brass, Nembe and Ogbia local government areas, even as he has advanced the legacy of fairness by spreading developmental projects across the three LGAs equally,” they said.

The group therefore expressed strong believe that a return to the senate come 2023 will enable Senator Degi-Eremienyo to pull his weight further in the senate and bring the much-needed federal presence to the senatorial district more than he has done.

They however affirmed that Ogbia remains the LGA to produce the next senator to succeed Senator Degi-Eremienyo under the adjusted rotational arrangement as advanced.

 “In view of the above, we passionately appeal to all concerned, particularly our Ogbia brothers and sisters, for brotherly understanding and accept this proposal of change by allowing and supporting Senator Degi-Eremienyo to continue and consolidate on the good work he is doing.

“And based on the forgoing, we hereby pass a Vote OF Confidence on Senator Degi-Eremienyo and call on the Bayelsa State leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the entire members of the Party in the Bayelsa East senatorial district to allow him a second chance to re-contest the Senatorial seat,” the group reiterated.