The Ogulagha Clan structure of the Ijaw Youths Council, has berated the Chairman of its Iduwini counterpart, Benjamin Izoukumor, over his comments on the number of terms lawmakers should serve at the National Assembly.
Benjamin had in a statement on Tuesday, called on the incoming 10th assembly to assign just two tenures to lawmakers, adding that the move should be given a constitutional backing.
However, in a swift response on Tuesday, IYC Ogulagha clan labeled the call as a callous one, saying Benjamin shot himself in the foot.
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It also described the call as witch hunt on the incumbent lawmaker representing Burutu Federal Constituency, Julius Pondi, who hails from Ogulagha and is in the same political ward with Idiwuni IYC Chairman.
In a statement signed by Samuel Uyadonghan and Clever Igere, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the Ogulagha IYC, demanded for the call to be withdrawn with immediate effect.
The state titled “RE: 2023: Iduwini IYC Tasks 10th Federal Lawmakers For 2 Term,” reads in full;
“While it is not in our character to respond to everything posted on the social media, we find it worrisome that an Iduwini man would come out in public space to shoot himself in the leg.
“It is note worthy to state that every elective executive offices as provided in the 1999 Nigerian constitution is not to run beyond two tenures, as in the true sense of word, they are truly the executors of the people’s developmental agenda and laws.
“Law making on the hand is like a fine wine that gets better with age and that is the same reason that all legislative offices have limitless tenures until their people deem fit to remove them through the ballot or referendum.
“Democracies all over the world has never thought of limiting representation to a number of tenures because obviously as stated earlier, the longer the representative in the house, the better the quality delivered.
“Furthermore The acclaimed piece, even if not properly conceptualized, obviously holds prejudice against a son of Burutu federal ward 11, that covers both Ogulagha, Iduwini and Kou. This is a obvious disservice to the people who gave you this mandate.
“To think that this is coming from someone whose clan enjoyed a three terms tenure at the state House of Assembly and consequently a tenure at the federal House of Representatives is laughable. This call was not necessary when his clan had a representative elected to represent the people of Burutu North and subsequently, Burutu federal constituency.
“If advanced democracy like the United States has seen no reason to limit the tenures of a representative, can the chairman of IYC in Iduwini clan tell us where he is actually borrowing leaf from in his unholy call for limiting a lawmaker’s terms in office. It is a joke taken too far if not witch-hunt borne out of bitterness.
“A witch-hunt the Ogulagha clan IYC feels is targeted at our own son, brother and leader who presently enjoy this said privileged position at the National Assembly.
“As youths of Ogulagha Clan IYC, we are not perturbed by your show of baseless outburst against the tenure of law makers, as it shows clearly your level of understanding of the polity and the people’s needs. We are more concerned that you will do that without recourse to the relationship of the Ogulagha and Iduwini people in Ward 11.
“It is therefore imperative to call on leaders of right standing in Iduwini clan to call the Chairman to order and have him revoke the statement before an individual resolve is considered the General Will of Iduwini people of Ward 11 and beyond.”
