The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Delta South Senatorial District, Chief Julius Takeme has declared that there is no zoning arrangements with regards to the Burutu Federal Constituency seat.
The former Commissioner for Urban and Rural Development stated this while playing host to members of the Burutu Credibility Front, led by Elder Darlington Owan, at his Warri resident on Sunday.
Spokesman for the BCF, Comrade Ayoromiegha Williams, in his presentation called to mind that the arguments of some quarters calling for equity on the premise of the Burutu Federal Constituency is a joke taken too far.
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Ayoromiegha emphasized that as a pro-PDP group, the BCF would not fold its hands to see opposition party members call for equity in Burutu, where such opposition has no winning power.
“We are aware that some persons are coming with a certain argument about the North and South divide, which we know that the call is just for some form of identities.
“As registered members of the party, we are not aware of any zoning conversations in time past.
“And even if we were to have that conversation around zoning with emphasis on the 2023 election, it is too late.
“We also want to plead that we wouldn’t want to see respected party leaders agreeing to an arrangement orchestrated by an opposition member,” Ayoromiegha posited.
Williams noted that as members of the PDP, there had been no conversation of any form with regards to zoning of the Burutu Federal Constituency seat in the PDP.
The group also called on Takeme to collaborate with other leaders of the PDP to see ensure that Burutu be given two Commissioner slots by the Delta State Government.
In his response, Takeme declared that the PDP has never discussed zoning the Burutu Federal Constituency seat at any time.
“There is no zoning for now. Burutu is still one. If the leadership would want to do that, we’ll do that. But for now, there is no discussion,” Takeme stated.
The former Council Chairman of Burutu noted that both the North and South have had three tenures each at the Gree Chambers, and as such, the PDP will look inwards to produce a credible and sellable candidate in the forthcoming election, that will make Burutu people proud.
“For now, it’s just three terms each for both the South and North. The issue is solely a party business and how to manage the party to produce candidates that will win election for the PDP is the most concern,” he added.
He noted that the party winning all of the positions in Burutu and other local government areas under his jurisdiction is the most pressing at the moment.
On the part of opposition members leading the call for equity, Takeme echoed that Burutu is purely a PDP zone, and oppositions should allow the party handle its affairs without interference.
Continuing, Takeme also queued behind the calls that Burutu is deserving of two commissioner slots.
“Burutu is ripe enough to have two commissioners. And in every of our leadership meetings, that has been the position of every Burutu leader, and the outgoing governor is aware of that.
“Though, he cannot do anything about it now, anybody that is coming in after him will know that Burutu is a place that will have two commissioners because the protest is so high and when it comes to that matter, we take it seriously and they are aware of our seriousness.
“All the governorship aspirants are aware of this. Burutu is a federal constituency and must be treated as such,” Takeme added.
The Burutu Federal Constituency seat currently occupied by Julius Pondi, has stirred calls for equity following his declaration for a third term bid.
While some persons have called for the seat to be zoned to the South, major stakeholders have quashed the talks around zoning, saying it has no bearing.
