Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
A Bayelsa based Non-governmental Organization, (NGO) I SEE YOU has argued in favour of two tenure for senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, saying that the two tenure will bring effective representation and more development to the people of the area.
A statement signed by the Director General of the group, Pastor Mercy Dan and Deputy Director General, Comrade Kenechukwu Jonathan and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, noted that with the current democratic realities, the single tenure rotation system for the Bayelsa East Senatorial District is no longer beneficial to the people politically.
The group therefore urged relevant stakeholders and political actors from the senatorial district to jettison the single tenure rotation arrangement and opt for a two tenure for senatorial representative as this will give room for consolidation as well as ensure the benefit associated with becoming a ranking members.
The duo while calling on stakeholders of the senatorial district to commence the maximum two tenure for senators representing the District, adding that since the incumbent Senator representing the Senatorial District is from Nembe, he should be given the opportunity to contest again for another tenure to complete the process then Ogbia will be the next and Brass Local Government Area will follow.
The statement reads in part: ” I SEE YOU, a Non-governmental Organization is using this medium to urge all stakeholders and every political actors from Bayelsa East senatorial District to discontinue the one single term for Senators representing the District. The sole purpose of representation is for effective representation and more development for the people of the area.
” We view as ultimate concern that with the current democratic realities, a situation where a senator is given only one single tenure rotation system for the Bayelsa East senatorial district does not benefit the people of the district.
” in terms of maximizing the benefits of representation, the two tenure arrangement for representative of the area will afford the member to be proactive in ensuring that the District gets all the benefits attached from the National Assembly and also has all the rights of becoming a ranking member.
” We therefore call on all stakeholders of the district to commence the maximum of a two tenure for Senators representing the people of the district.
“Rightly, we are of the opinion that since the incumbent Senator representing the Bayelsa East senatorial District is from Nembe, he should be allowed to contest again to begin the process after which Ogbia takes the next turn then followed by Brass Local Government Area.
Finally, while expressing joy and satisfaction for the level of quality and effective representation by the incumbent Senator, Biobarakuma Eremienyo Degi representing Bayelsa East Senatorial district, we wish to also commend the stakeholders of the area for showing great leadership that has ensured that the zoning arrangement agreed upon years ago is not altered by any individual or groups”, the statement noted.