*I’m Still Consulting, He says
Though successfully screened and cleared to contest the PDP primary for Warri Federal Constituency, the Executive Chairman of Warri North Local Government Council, Hon. Smart Yomi Asekutu, has declared to the Progressive Youth Leadership Foundation of Niger Delta, PYLFND, that he is still consulting with his leaders as to whether or not go ahead to indicate interest for the National Assembly seat.
Progressive Youth Leadership Foundation of Niger Delta, PYLFND, had, sometime last month, voluntarily sponsored the purchase of the PDP Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for Hon. Asekutu to contest for the Warri Federal Constituency House of Representatives Seat, following their conviction that the Warri North Local Government Boss is the best qualified for the position in the interest of political balance and his antecedent.
The group had, in their various presentations, emphasized the need for a healthy balance in the political equation between the two major ethnic nationalities of the Ijaws and Itsekiris in the Warri Constituency, adding that while the Ijaws have chosen to stay away from the Delta South Senatorial race to pave way for the Itsekiris and the Isokos in 2023, it is only fair for the Ijaws to produce the House of Representatives member for the Warri Federal Constituency.
They expressed conviction that such political balance will, not only consolidate the existing peace in the area, it will further deepen the unity and cooperation between the two ethnic nationalities as well as promote security and development in the area.
The group also harped on the superlative performance of the Council boss especially in the aspects of entrenching enduring peace in the Local Government Area, massive infrastructural development within one year, empowerment to the people as well as fostering cordial relationship and unity amongst the people.
Led by its national president, Chief Diplomat Adam Ogomugo Ebimabowei Marble, the group also considered the national award of Best Performed Council Chairman in Delta State bestowed on Hon. Asekutu by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs and the acknowledgment of his achievement by the Warri Monarch, HRM Atuwatse III during his recent visit to Koko, as some of their reasons in persuading the Chairman to contest for the House of Representatives Seat for the people of the Constituency.
Expressing shock when the group presented the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to Hon. Asekutu in Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area sometime in March, 2022, he wondered why they had gone that far to commit themselves for his sake. While commending their effort, he however informed them that he will consult widely and extensively with his leaders and his mentor, His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the way forward.
However, Hon. Asekutu appeared before the ongoing PDP National Screening Committee sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital which successfully screened and cleared him for the party primary coming up soon.
Speaking with our correspondent shortly after Hon. Asekutu was screened and cleared by the PDP Screening Committee in Asaba, the national president of PYLFND, Chief Comrade Adam Marble expressed joy and hope that the chairman may at last heed their call to offer himself for the purposeful representation needed by the Warri people in the National Assembly.
“We are very happy that chairman has presented himself for the screening and he has been cleared. We have considered a number of factors that are motivating us to urge Hon. Asekutu to offer himself to contest and represent our people in the National Assembly.
“First and foremost, there is the need to sustain the political equilibrium already existing between the two major ethnic nationalities in the area which has been responsible for the peaceful co-existence among us for the past one year or so. At the moment, the Ijaws who are having the Senatorial seat are relinquishing it for the Itsekiris and Isokos. Therefore, it is just fair that the House of Representatives for the Warri Federal Constituency should go to the Ijaws for the sake of political balance.
“Our conviction on the capacity and capability of Hon. Asekutu is hinged on the fact that he is one man who is so detribalized in his approach to governance. He has demonstrated unbiased attitude as a leader in the area.
“We are further emphasizing that with the peace existing in the area has been largely due to the political balance between the Ijaws and the Itsekiri. And we are stressing that if by 2023 the Ijaws lose out in the political game both at the National, State and even at the Local Government levels, some persons may feel very bad and may resort to some kind of things that may threaten the existing peace in the area. You can see that the Ijaws have a good case.
“That is why we as a youth group that cuts across the two major ethnic nationalities of Ijaws and Itsekiri are convinced that the existing political balance has been responsible for the sustaining peace and security in the Warri area and it should be sustained by ceding the House of Representative to an Ijaw man in the person of Hon. Asekutu who, as the first Local Government chairman of Ijaw extraction for the first time, has performed quite satisfactorily. Hence our call for him to offer himself for the service of his people in the Green chambers of the National Assembly”, the group said.
Asked what the reaction of the chairman was when the group conveyed its goodwill message to him over his successful screening and clearance by the PDP Screening Committee, the Public Relations Officer of PYLFND, Delta State chapter, Comrade Okotie Omasa Mawe who had once referred to Hon. Asekutu as a Peace Builder, told our correspondent that although the chairman still insists on going on with further consultation, “We will continue to plead with him in good faith to show more interest in the race to represent us in the National Assembly.”
