The lawmaker representing Burutu Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Julius Pondi has reacted to calls by some quarters to zone the seat in the 2023 elections.
The two-term Green Chamber member who described the calls as an attempt to “bully” him out of contesting the forthcoming election, advised for Burutu people to decide who will represent them.
Pondi stated this while playing host to members of the Burutu Credibility Front, led by Elder Darlington Owan, on Wednesday, at his Warri residence.
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Spokesperson for the BCF, Ayoromiegha Welemu Williams, in his address commended the efforts of the lawmaker, with emphasis on the potency of bills raised by Pondi.
Williams emphatically poured encomiums on the Ogulagha-born politician for the bill seeking the formation of the Federal College of Fishery and Aquaculture in Tuomo, as well as other numerous projects executed across the length and breath of Burutu.
The group called for integrity, credibility, and the ability of aspirants to be used as determinants for the PDP to select flag bearers in the elections.
It also group expressed worry over the unholy affiliation between members of the PDP and opposition members, leadings calls for zoning.
“We’re worried about the romance between members of the PDP and members of the opposition party. It is worrisome for an opposition to address power brokers in the PDP to discuss zoning. It is an aberration.”
It further called on leaders of Burutu to give priority to the general development of the constituency.
“Leaders should prioritize developmental projects in Burutu, particularly the Ayakoromo bridge and the Delta State School of Marine Technology. We urge for leaders in Burutu to put heads and hands together to take this message to appropriate authorities to see to it that there is a headway,” Williams added.
In his reaction, Pondi expressed disappointment that young people who ought to be at the driving seat to see that youths are elected into public offices are leading a purported witch-hunt against a fellow youth.
He emphasized that zoning has never been used as a determining factor to elect representatives, stressing that he will not be stopped from contesting if he chooses.
“As far as I know, and being a long serving member of the People’s Democratic Party, I don’t know and I’ve not heard, neither is it printed anywhere, where tenures are to be alternated between Burutu North and South.
“There is no convention to the amount of tenures a lawmaker should serve. Neither is it a convention in Burutu to zone legislative seats.
Pondi, who said some of the gimmicks were just an attempt to bully him out of the election, called for aspirants to campaign with genuine approaches.
“You can’t bully me out of contesting. Nobody can bully me out of a contest. The ideal thing to do is for all aspirants to go to the polls. Burutu people will decide their representative.
He called to mind that if zoning was ever part of the criteria for electing public offices in Burutu, a council chairman wouldn’t have ruled for two tenures.
“If zoning was in the scheme of things, we would not have had a council chairman serving for two tenures.
“No one person had been privileged to serve for more than one tenure, until recently. Everyone should campaign genuinely and see if they can convince Burutu people to vote them in.
Rating his performance in his seven years at the Green Chambers, Pondi said;
“As a lawmaker, I have touched the entire wards in Burutu with projects, except Ward 9 and by next month, a project billed for them will commence.
“I have done more than any legislator has ever done in the history of Burutu. Talk about bills, I have represented Burutu to the best of my capacity,” he stressed.
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