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| Hon. Leo Ogor |
· As Comrade Udemude blast Hon. Leo Ogor
· Says no 4th term for him
By Our Reporter
In a press statement released and signed by the group leader of lkpide-lrri youths, Comrade Prince Gabriel O. Udemude and made available to Isoko Mirror reads in parts: One of the most significance features of democracy is the fact that citizens should decide for themselves who will govern them and represent their interest.
Anything short of that becomes fraudulent and will always result in protest against injustice. Though the processes of selecting representatives and those who will govern have varied across times and societies, modern state have come to focus on elections as one of the most critical elements in the selection of leaders.
Beyond this, elections are also considered a significance feature of democracies, for without them, competition for power would be much more chaotic.
Furthermore, one of the most significant function of elections is to legitimize a political system, ensure the accountability of leaders and reinforce people's participation in the political system.
Yet there have been very few instances where these goals are fulfilled in Nigeria. Nigerians have long departed from the pathway of' democratic norms and ideals because of the incursion into the main stream of Nigerian politics by mediocre and political jobbers who want to get there and get rich by all means, wrote often! elections are "do or die" battlegrounds where violent conflicts occur because of electoral frauds that mar the legitimacy and erode the stability of the political system.
And that is where and when the youths are needed to kindle violence mostly associated with physical presence and use of arms and ammunitions. Youths, not just the youths but children of the ordinary Nigerians are the ones used by these class of people to achieve 'their objectives. Nigeria has conducted eight general elections since independence in 1960. The elections were held-in 1964, 1979, 1983,1993,1999,2(03) 2007 and 2011. All of these elections were substantially marred by various types of electoral violence or violence associated with party politics and conduct of elections. Thus, one of the major challenges of managing the electoral system in Nigeria has been the electoral violence which prevents the lrri person from being voted into power because of the fraudulent process involved. Elections affect the credibility of the electoral system, the democratic system and magnitude of violence associated with elections and rigging in this country are posing serious threats to the national quest for stable democratic transition, as well as to the attainment of the long term goal of consolidated democracy which is the reason why most governors, house of assembly members and house of representative members are not performing today. Because they do not need to rely on the people's votes to win the elections as the alternative to the true electoral process is violence which they can pay for. And a strong reason that resulted in the current Boko Haram insurgencies that have left Nigeria almost shredded. The ECOMOG members; a formidable youth force put together by the former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State were used and abandoned, these men became ready foot soldiers of Boko Haram who had a cause other than the religion to fight A1i Modu Sheriff.
Apart from the general negative impact on the democratic process, electoral violence also has direct negative physical and emotional/psychological impact on Nigerians. The physical impact are the ones well known which consists of attacks and assaults by one group of partisans or another resulting in injuries and at times in death.
By engaging in electoral violence and rigging, the youths are helping to erode confidence in the system and thus working against the current campaign to make Nigeria a truly democratic country for the benefit of all. That was how the Ikpide-Irri youths of Isoko South L.G.A Delta State were used by the incumbent member of House of Representative Hon, Leo Okuweh Ogor-Representing Isoko South and North Federal constituency and his team to rig the April 2011 House of representative election that brought him back to power.
Considering his gross non-performance in his first term and the overwhelming popularity of Late Ovutowe Oghale Osiga, his opponent in the last general election; Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor was alleged to have approached the Ikpide-Irri youths organization in Isoko land and solicited their support for his re-election in April, 2011 House of Representative Election.
It is no longer news that Comrade Prince Gabriel O. Udernude, the leader of the Ikpide- Irri youth movement and some other youth group leaders under him were invited to Isoko South L.G.A Chairman's Lodge under their watchful eyes some youths were been used for a massive thumb printing of the ballot papers in favour of Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor. The Ikpide-Irri youths admitted that they did all these to get, Leo Okuweh Ogor back to his office for a promised that he will develop Ikpide-Irri through a road leading from Trofani community of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He also promised to construct a Jetty at Ikpide-Irri river bank to also empower all the youth movement of Ikpide-Irri. He made this promises through his political leader that he always used in delivering Ikpide-Irri community for him during election, Hon. Ejiro Etoroma. Ikpide-lrri youths paid him a visit at his resident in Ozoro Isoko North L.G.A Delta State on the 24th and 25th of December 2013, to remind him of his promises. He assured us not to worry that he is working on it that by the end of February 2014 all that he promised will be fulfilled but here we are, April 2014 and nothing has been done over the promised he made. Although this may not be new to Nigeria political system but given the magnitude and the scale of the electoral Fraud perpetrated in Isoko in the last elections that edge out the mandate of Late Hon, Ovutowe Oghale Osiga as the winner, and the unfolding evidences, it is very necessary at this point to reveal the underling facts that affected the conduct of free and fair elections in Isoko in particular and Nigeria in general.
The Ikpide-Irri youths under Comrade Prince Gabriel O. Udemude with such arrangement and were promised plum jobs for the unemployed lsoko youths and enhanced peaceful development in Isoko South and North while getting the youths constructively engaged by building skill acquisition centres all over the communities in Isoko South and North, especially in Ikpide-Irri community all these were promised by Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor.
Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor, Deputy Majority leader in the House of Representative, is a "monumental failure" and a worst "rogue" Comrade Prince Gabriel O. Udemude decry how Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor has, Comrade Udemude lamented the harsh treatment melted out to them, the youth has threatened to reveal all the back hand dealing of Leo Okuweh Ogor and make his candidacy come 20 I 5 unbearable for him. If he does not settle the lkpide-Irri youths and Isoko men and women for their right.
The Youth leaders restated equivocally that if nothing is done within the shortest possible time for them to get justice, that their quietness should not be regarded as a child's play, emphasising that this is not an empty threat, therefore nobody should dare them further.
The youths now know better and are ready to take their own destiny in their hands.
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