Bayelsa guber: Group tackles Ogoriba over denial of zoning

A Group, Bayelsa Development Vanguard, has condemned Hon. Warman Ogoriba and Hon. Heneiken Lokpobiri alleged plan to scuttle zoning in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State. In a press statement, the group condemned a statement credited to Ogoriba, a former member of House of Representatives and currently the Director – General of Heneiken Lokpobiri Governorship Campaign Organisation in Bayelsa State, suggesting that Bayelsa State stakeholders had never adopted any form of rotational method for the office of Governor of Bayelsa State.

In a statement, signed by Ebitimi Igoniboyefi, the Chairman of Bayelsa Development Vanguard, the group said: “As a responsible vanguard, committed towards promoting the spirit of unity, justice and sustainable development in the Bayelsa project, we cannot afford to fold our arms and sit on the fence and watch at the activities of some individuals which tend to destroy the fabric that unites us as a people inextricably wedded together in the spirit of fairness, equity and unity.

“The statement credited to Hon. Ogoriba is not only misleading but also a self-serving political agenda that is capable of undermining the ideals of fair deal which the Izon nation had fought for over the years in the Nigerian project.

It is absolute nonsense for anyone to say that Bayelsa stakeholders have not sat anywhere to agree on any zoning formula over the governorship issue in Bayelsa State,” the group said, adding, “apart from the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which recognizes the essence of federal character principle, the issue of fair distribution of political offices have become part and parcel of our political process in the overall interest of promoting cohesion, confidence in one another, peace and unity and above all, to give every component a sense of belonging.

In the case of Bayelsa governorship election, no right thinking man, with right conscience, and mean well for the unity, peace and progress of the state should engage in the warped logic, wild imagination and the dangerous political adventurism which the likes of Hon. Warman Ogoriba are pushing for.”