Bomadi Mandate Group (BMG), a Delta State-based socio-political pressure group has vowed to actively participate in the politics of the state in the build-up to 2023 general elections.
The group made this known in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Dagidi Andaye and Publicity Secretary, Famous Ofrobiri. The group said the major aim of actively participating in politics was to give the many unrepresented Delta Ijaw people good representation and be the voice of the voiceless.
The statement said “we as a group have come to stay. We are out to attract dividends of democracy to our Bomadi Local Government and her people. This is one local government that always gives every government that comes to power massive votes.
“There is no governor that has won the election without the votes of Bomadi people. But unfortunately, after elections, our people are neglected and no tangible dividend of democracy is allowed to trickle down to our people. This is the narrative and lamentation we have come to change.
“We are going to be actively involved in all elections from the state house of assembly to the governorship. This is the only way we can help in changing the political fortunes of our people for the better,” the group said.
BMG though described the recent meeting held by Delta politicians of Ijaw extraction in Warri as a welcome development, however, it faulted the composition of the people saddled with the responsibility of arriving at a consensus governorship candidate of Ijaw extraction.
It argued that the group was mainly made up of people with known political leaning and this according to BMG has voided the impartiality of the process.
According to the group, “The meeting of Delta politicians of Ijaw extraction in Warri to pursue an Ijaw governor in Delta State come 2023 is a welcome development. As an Ijaw group, we will always encourage ourselves to participate fully in the political process in Delta State by offering ourselves to Deltans to be given the opportunity to serve the state as governor.
“We understand that three sons of Ijaw are aspiring to be governor of the state but we want to express our ill-feeling on the composition of the secretariat that is piloting the affairs of the Ijaw governorship agenda.
“We are not pleased that the privilege was given to these aspirants to nominate people who will be at the secretariat. We are saying it is uncalled for. How can these nominees be neutral? It is wrong and we see no impartiality and fairness in the process.
“Because nothing fair will come out of a panel set up by an accused against himself, the persons so nominated and serving as drivers of the Delta Ijaw governorship quest are not fit to drive this sensitive process to an acceptable conclusion without failing,” the group said.
BMG criticised what it described as the perpetuation of the old folks in the power matrix of Delta Ijaw without giving the younger generation a chance.
“These old generations have done their very best and it has become very clear to all and sundry that their best is not good enough to take us to where we are supposed to be. Therefore, the system is in dire need of fresh, young and intelligent good heads who can measure up to contemporary issues and challenges. Any society which does not want its young ones to grow can never grow too,” the group said.
The group commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for what it said are his laudable legacies in Delta State and prays for a vibrant and God-fearing successor to consolidate on those legacies.
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