It’s amusing seeing the political reaction that follows each calls made by political analysts criticizing the plan to recontest for the third term, a house of representatives position by Hon. Leke Abejide.
The fact no doubt is that, he has the constitutional right to contest for even a tenth times, only if there’s a moral justification to do so.
We have cases of rep members from some mono constituents in the country repeating such representation, because there are moral justification for the opportunity, which includes;
- Mono ethnic societies
- A single local government making up a constituency e.g, Ajaokuta federal constituency, Ikeja federal constituency etc.
However, Yagba federal constituency is made up of three different local governments with diverse political interests, and Geographical features.
These differences are evident in local governments like Yagba west that has; Town council and Area council, Yagba East that has Isanlu area and Oke Oyi area, likewise Mopamuro that has Mopa/Ilai/Okeagi area and Amuro area.
Already, different politicking has started across all these local governments on how over time, they rotate House of Assembly and local government chairmen.
There are gentlemen campaigning for Hon. Abejide to continue for eternity, yet hammering on the need to maintain the rotation formula for house of Assembly and chairmen.
Comrade Ganiyu, one of Elder leke henchmen recently came out with an article calling on the need for Yagba East to maintain the rotation formula, because he probably has an ambition, threatening never to support Hon Obaro for a second term, yet he wants Hon leke Abejide for a third term.
Yagba west has similar scenario, with close allies of Hon leke presently scheming for the local government chairman with a vibrant argument that it’s coming to Area council. Likewise, the likes of BAO and others from Egbe area council who are warming up for the state house of Assembly slot which they believe should rotate to Egbe town council as against a second term schemes by Man Kuli and a second term move by Hon Tosin as chairman.
It should be noted that, these rotations are held in great awe by various communities making up the various LGAs. Except for Late Hon. Omiata from okeoyi in Yagba East, no body has ever done twice in Yagba East and West.
Why then, do we believe in a hypocritical manner that the house of representatives should be an all comer’s game?
When you point one finger to your neighbor, the remaining four is pointed back at you. If these shenanigans are encouraged at that level, we should be rest assured that, gradually it’s coming home to roost, as every other elective post will follow the same trend and become an all comer’s contest.
Let’s nip these hypocrisies in the bud before it give birth to complete breakdown of community social contracts.
– Olawamiwale Appah wrote from Abuja, FCT
