The Niger Delta Peace Advocates (NDPA), has accused the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike of sponsoring groups to propagate calunmy to silence opposition voices in the senate.
The group alleged that the Senate President and the FCT Minister are using instruments of the Federal Government to fight opposition voices in the national assembly, in order to silence opposition party lawmakers standing firm to defend democracy, justice and fairness.
In a statement issued by the group Coordinator, Comrade Christopher Abama, in Abuja on Sunday, 25th May, condemned the fight against opposition voices in the national assembly, who are duly elected to represent their constituents in the national assembly, and not party.
The group pointed out that Senator Akpabio who is accused of sexual harassment by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is using every political instrument available at his disposal as a President of the Senate to fight opposition party lawmakers.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson is among those the Senate President and the FCT Minister is fighting seriously, by sponsoring calunmy and propaganda against him for visiting Senator Natasha after her six months suspension from the Senate.
Dickson who had a confrontation with Akpabio during plenary over the emergency rule in Rivers State, has been a threat due to his vocality and eloquence in the Senate, advocating and defending the interest of the Niger Delta and the Ijaw nation for equity, justice and fairness to prevail.
Christopher accused Akpabio and Wike of using the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri who hails from same senatorial district with Dickson, by sponsoring groups to propagate propaganda against the federal lawmaker for standing firm for democracy, justice and fairness.
Lokpobiri is sponsoring political groups and stooges to propagate calunmy and propaganda of zoning of the Senate and House of Reps, which had earlier been altercated and defaulted by politicians from Ekeremor Local Government Area.
The group referenced a gentlemen arrangement between Sagbama and Ekeremor of the occupancy of the Senate and House of Reps that existed for decades, until politicians from Ekeremor LGA defaulted and disrespected the understanding.
“The Ekeremor LGA defaulted the gentlemen understanding when Mr Peremobowei Ebebi contested against Senator Dickson in 2020 senatorial bye-election, and Mr Wilson Ayakpo Dauyegha contested against Senator Dickson in 2023 general elections,” the group added.
The group added that Ekeremor LGA has occupied the house of reps position from 2015 till date, while Sagbama LGA occupying the senate, which is equality and fairness, noting that the senate and house of reps shares the same constitutional powers, functions and benefits.
“Dickson who attracted various infrastructural projects to Bayelsa West, especially the long-awaited senatorial road to improve socio-economic activities in the senatorial district and beyond, is driving the course of the Niger Delta and Ijaw nation in the red chamber.
“He is a proud son of the Niger Delta and Ijaw nation for his vocality, eloquence, advocacy and sound representation in the senate, which has been commended by critical stakeholders, including former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
“Dickson should be encouraged as a vocal voice in the national assembly, making sound contributions and advocacy for the peace, stability and development of the people of the Niger Delta, the Ijaw nation and Nigeria at large,” the group added.
The group coordinator, Christopher urged Lokpobiri to concentrate on attracting infrastructural projects and human capital development programmes to improve the welfare of the people of Bayelsa West and the State, rather than sponsoring propagandas against Dickson.
He urged the people of Bayelsa West to remain united and focused, and not allow themselves to be deceived, and used by a desperate politician in propagating propagandas to create division against the peaceful coexistence between the two local government areas over the years.
The group challenged the honorable minister, Sen. Lokpobiri to highlight infrastructural projects and human capital development programmes that he has attracted or facilitated to Bayelsa West, as a two-time minister to better the lives of the people of the senatorial district over the years.
Christopher while condemning the deliberate refusal and negligence of the honorable minister in attracting projects to Bayelsa West, said Sen. Lokpobiri represented the senatorial district as a Senator for good eight years without a single project.
“Lokpobiri was a Minister of State for Agriculture under President Muhammadu Buhari, and he is now a serving Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), yet hasn't done anything for the people of Ekeremor LGA, neither his hometown, Ekeremor community,” he added.
“Lokpobiri who served as a senator for eight years and minister for four years before his current ministerial position, has never held a strategic meeting with his constituents, neither his community to address issues affecting the people, but only good at using thugs during elections.
“Instead of sponsoring groups to destabilize the peaceful coexistence between the two local government areas that has been maintained by Senator Dickson, Sen. Lokpobiri should concentrate on attracting infrastructural development to the senatorial district,” the group added.
The group urging Senator Dickson not to be distracted by propagandas, warned Sen. Lokpobiri to reframe from the sponsorship of calunmy to create division in Bayelsa West, stressing that the group will carry out a protest for his recall as a minister.
Despite the sponsorship of calunmy against Senator Dickson in the senatorial district, he maintains a strong grassroot support base, as a representative who relates with his constituents consistently in addressing issues affecting them.
0 Comments