By Chancel Bomadi Sunday
BOMADI—It is no longer news that the Patani Agenda Group 2027, in collaboration with The Concerned Citizens of Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, once again faltered before the State Government House in Asaba during their recent protest, presenting their demands to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
It is noteworthy that the two groups, comprised of a few members under the patronage of Hon. Basil Ganagana and Mr. Louis Otuisi, aspirants for the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general elections, have been attempting to promote their candidates through campaigns of denigration, insults and abuses directed at the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Nicholas Ebomo Mutu, who has consistently triumphed over his opponents in transparent, free and fair elections over the years.
During the aforementioned protest, it was evident that the errand boys and the hired dancers, along with the impressionable young women accompanying them, were bewildered and unaware of their purpose. Indeed, the woman designated to read the communiqué was not well-prepared, and her confusion only deepened as she attempted to articulate the demands outlined in the document.
The Demands in the Communiqué
The Demands of these errand boys as contained in the communique, have further unveiled the aspirations of those put at the forefront by both Hon. Basil Ganagana and Mr Louis Otuisi to catalog their images, who requested Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori to give them political appointments such as SSAs. This clearly exemplifies the “Egina Beni” politics in the movement, and I likewise encourage Gov Oborevwori to consider their appeal.
Another demand they articulated was the establishment of an equitable playing field for aspirants by the party, a condition that has characterized the electoral landscape in the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency over the years. I commend this request and firmly believe that the constituents will, once more, cast their votes overwhelmingly for their chosen candidate in the upcoming elections.
The protest amounts to nothing more than a political gimmick and a failure, as all the emissaries and their patrons opposed Gov Sheriff Oborevwori in the 2023 general elections. The leader of the Concerned Citizens of Bomadi/Patani, Mr. Christopher Anthony, a loyal supporter of Dr. David Edevbie, who rallied forces for his master during the 2023 elections, along with Hon. Basil Ganagana who coordinated for Dr David Edevbie and Mr. Louis Otuisi who aligned with his boss Dr Kingsley Otuaro against the incumbent governor in 2023. However, Hon. Mutu remained steadfast in his support until the very end.
Furthermore, I have entreated Gov Oborevwori to grant the appointment opportunities they sought in their communiqué, in spite of the fact that all their leaders opposed his ascension during the lead-up to the 2023 general elections.
The Chief of Staff at Government House, Prince Johnson Erijo, in his reply on behalf of Gov Oborevwori, responded commendably by affirming the party’s commitment to offering a fair and equitable platform for all candidates, as has consistently been the practice in the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency.
I wish to reiterate that Patani, the administrative centre of the Patani local government area, has been made appealing by the roads constructed under the influence of the lawmaker representing the federal constituency, Hon. Nicholas Ebomo Mutu. Should anyone wish to verify this claim, I encourage you to catalog the roads traversing Patani and determine for yourselves the extent of Hon. Mutu’s influence in comparison to those developed by the state. This will quell the propaganda spread by the emissaries of Hon. Basil Ganagana and Mr. Louis Otuisi, who operate under the auspices of The Patani Agenda Group 2027 and The Concerned Citizens of Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, alleging that the lawmaker has been remiss in his duties.
All conspicuous facts concerning these two aspirants regarding their politics of defamation, insults and denunciation, as opposed to engaging the electorate with campaign platforms, indicate two things: their lackluster profiles and apprehension of the people’s unequivocal rejection at the polls.
As I previously stated, all these efforts are mere political stratagems designed to put “Egina Beni” on the table. I urge my brother from Bomadi, Mr. Christopher Anthony, to persist in his endeavours, as it is a duty he owes to his benefactors.
Regarding Hon. Mutu, he is a political luminary who has significantly contributed to the constituency’s advancement in both infrastructure and human capacity development.
