Hon. Leo Ogor and His Fourth Term Ambition

[The InfoStrides]

In one of the recent social network postings, I saw that one of the praise singers of Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor of the Federal House of Representatives wrote that nobody can win Hon. Leo Ogor for fourth term ambition to the National Assembly in 2015. This posting was so disgusting and sickening that some Isoko political followers have sold their political birthrights to ravenous politicians in the region. For Hon. Leo Ogor to aspire for fourth term bid is not politically wrong because he has the constitutionally right to contest at his wishes but the misadventuous thank you visit with other politicians in recent times indicated that some cannot pin-point any visible and people-oriented projects in Isoko region.

For cry and aloud, Hon. Leo Ogor, the Deputy Majority leader of Federal House of Representatives is not the only proficient or eligible Isoko person that can represent the people in 2015 but we still have egg-head people for that position and nothing else. For three consecutive times, Hon Leo Ogor has been elected and re-elected, yet no visible projects have been sited except few. Though, Hon. Leo Ogor has politically performed in terms of paper presentations in the National Assembly. He is one of the experienced members of the House without doubt.Isoko nation is one of the deprived regions, despite that 35 percent of crude oil and gas is explored from the region, yet no tangible infrastructural development are seen in recent past years.

Precisely two years ago, one of the Isoko community newspapers published Hon. Leo Ogor on his third ambition where the writer wrote that Hon. Leo Ogor should step down for novel politicians that have tall dreams for Isoko nation why he stands as a political father or adviser but the said politician never bothered about the candid advice from the writer rather continue on his thank you visit. But after that publication, Hon. Leo Ogor according to a reliable source grew annoyed and decided to publish some of his unfinished projects for readers to see. Though he completed some why others were abandoned. The problem with Isoko politicians is that they do not like to patronize local and national media for record purposes unlike other Nigerian politicians that use the media to promote their constituencies they belong. But some political observers assumed that those projects he claimed to be sited were all political gimmicks and nothing else. It is not a crime for Hon. Leo Ogor to aspire for fourth term, after all, Senator David Mark and others are serving their fourth terms in the National Assembly but these politicians had done well in their constituencies they represented.  Hon. Leo Ogor is an exposed Isoko politician with integrity but should allow young and vibrant Isoko politicians to contest for 2015. In a Nigeria's context, it is very hard to win a sitting politician because money speaks more than the vote that is the kind of country our leaders have chosen to be. Hon. Leo Ogor should play a fatherly role to enlighten Isoko populace. One of the political grievances of Isoko enlighten followers is that Hon. Leo Ogor has not utilized his 12years in the House of Representatives appropriately in terms of using the constituency funds to provide visible projects for the people and alleviating poverty in the land.Isoko PDP followers are gradually getting  enlightened on projects than using money to deceive them.  Isoko politicians believe that political empowerments are attested to cubes of magi, bags of rice and beans, cutlasses, T-shirts, Tins of tomatoes and others. Politics has gone beyond that illiterate and kangaroo empowerment but facts and figures are what people want to see. The era of political mendacious liars is over. In Lagos State, especially Ajeromi- Ifelodun constituency, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly is presently serving his fourth term in the house because his 14years in office , he has empowered many people from all walks of life. He has never used his exotic cars to intimidate his electorates unlike in Isoko where some politicians have turned themselves to semi-gods with heavy frighten security operatives with sirens everywhere. Even some people are now campaigning for Hon. Taiwo for fifth term which he has objected and allowing others to go for his position in 2015 while aspiring for bigger political position.

Again, Hon. Leo Ogor is not the only ambitious politician that intends to retain his position but the likes of Hon. Tim Owhefere of the Delta State House of Assembly presently serving his second term while intended to go for third term, Senator James Manager is of both Isoko and Ijaw serving his third term and aspiring to go for governor in 2015, Comrade Macaulay Ovuozorie, the present SSG, intends to become the Deputy governor in 2015, after being in Delta State government for over 10years with little achievements and Arc. Jeo Ogeh, Isoko DESOPADEC commissioner.  Even some of these local government chairmen and councilors in Isoko have performed well than these highly exalted political office holders. It was also alleged that Hon. Leo Ogor was recently humiliated but failed to grant journalists interview on his state of leadership in Isoko where he represents in the House. In 2011, the likes of Hon. Osiga Oghale and others contested against Hon. Leo Ogor, but he narrowly won because of his strong political foundation which PDP followers gave him. Most Isoko politicians have make themselves semi-gods using bullet-proof jeeps to oppress the downtrodden Isoko people without cause. Is it a crime to elect our Isoko leaders?  For instance, Hon Benjamin Okiemute Essien is just serving his first half term in Delta State House of Assembly under the platform of DPP while some people call his Party as PDP2 but he has sited visible projects with massive youth empowerments and others. What a great performance? Even Hon. Dickson Ebegbare as a new Isoko South Vice chairman has also empowered some people in his constituency within 6months.of this year 2013. Our old serving political leaders must be questioned on their stewardship in Isokoland.

Finally Isoko nation is yet to have a political father that would proffer critical decisions on Isoko politics and others. Most of these Isoko politicians do not reply text messages and pick their calls but claiming to be representing their people. The fact remains that political arrogance is more pronounced among Isoko politicians. It is time for Hon. Leo Ogor to see Isoko nation as one family now.

By Godday Odidi,
Public Affairs Analyst, Lagos.