Southern-Ijaw constituents moves to protest against Ofongo, writes National assembly.

• Ofongo reacts to their allegations, says it's untrue and a blackmail.

Constituents of Southern-Ijaw federal constituency in Bayelsa State have accused Hon. Henry Ofongo, of negligence and nepotism, they threatened to stage a peaceful protest to the National Assembly, over what they described as deliberate neglect of Southern-Ijaw constituents by the National lawmaker for the past six years.

Hon. Henry Ofongo, is representing Southern-Ijaw federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

The angry constituents, comprising mainly students, and youths, while addressing an open letter to the Speaker of the House of representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu dogara, calling for restrainment of their representative, accused the lawmaker of being an Abuja based politician, who only favours members of his family.

Ofongo's constituency comprises only Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state.

Leaders of students and youths bodies for the LGA dropped their  threat in an open letter on Monday, 25th September 2017. The statement was signed by Atobu M. Pilot, President, Federated Union of Southern Ijaw Students Worldwide (Fusis), and Ebiowei Saniyigha, President Amassoma Community/Chairperson Southern Ijaw communities youths Presidents forum.

They lamented that the lawmaker was filled with Ego, pride and has refused to keep good relationship with his people and had allegedly continued to shy away from his constitutional responsibilities.

They cried out that the lawmaker since his six years stay, was only giving empowerment programmes to members of his family and those around him, whereas those who voted him were wallowing in abject poverty and lack of any federal government attracted program with many community schools in deplorable conditions.

Besides, they (constituents) claimed that since Hon. Ofongo was elected as their representative in the National Assembly, he had not pass any bill to favour them, or attract the presence of the federal government to their constituency.

The letter reads " Rt. Hon. Speaker Sir, an appeal to restrain Hon. Henry Ofongo and notification of a peaceful protest to the state house;

" We are constituents of Hon. Henry Ofongo, member, representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State at the National Assembly.

" We wish to bring to your notice that Hon. Henry Ofongo, has neglected his constitutional mandate and has not been in touch with them since his inception into office.

" We have therefore made a compilation of reasons below to show the world that Hon. Henry Ofongo, is not fit to sit in the house and represent the good people of southern-Ijaw.

" Southern-Ijaw federal constituency is made up of one local government area, yet the people cannot feel the presence of their National representative after six years in Abuja.

" There are no roads linking our various communities, no good schools, no social or welfare programs, no health centres, no good drinking water, till date we bath and drink water from our rivers.

" We are not saying it's his responsibility to construct roads, but as a National representative who has spent six years in the house, he can't boast of a federal government project that has been attracted to the area.

The constituents further listed the faults of the lawmaker, and hesitated the Speaker to heed to their demands.

" We state that:

• Hon. Henry Ofongo does not understand the enormity of his task, he has not deemed it to have a constituency office after six years in office, meaning he has no presence in the constituency and the people have no way of reaching him.

• He has no project situated in the constituency after six years, if he claims there is, let him show it to Nigerians.

• He is known for nepotism, no wonder, he appointed only his family members as his personal aides.

• He has not initiated any bill that will be of immense help to his constituents.

• He does not understand the rudiments of governance, as such lacks the quality of being a National lawmaker.

• He does not see himself as a public office holder, he carries himself so high that he thinks no one can share ideas with him.

• As a Youth and former student leader, he is yet to roll out any programs to benefits youths and students of his constituency.

• Our primary and secondary schools building are in deplorable condition, causing an embarrassment to us, one of such is the Opuama community school.

• Students are on the verge of dropping out of schools.

• For the past six years since his reign, he has never met with his constituents to create an impression that the people has a leadership.

" Following the above sir, we state that enough is enough; we lack confidence in his continuous stay in the house, we pass a vote of no confidence on him. We reject and we disown him, we forbid him from representing us.

" We are aware of how other representatives in other states are performing well, let us use Hon. Julius Pondi, representing Burutu in Delta State, he consistently meets with his people, he hosts social and welfare program for his people, why is our own case different?,

" We also wish to formally inform you, that a letter has been sent to the Independent National Electoral commission, demanding the designations of the various polling post in the constituency, after receipt, we will formally write again to the house.

" We also wish to inform you sir, that we would be embarking on a peaceful protest  to the house, where we will formally lodge our displeasure and push further our demand for his restrainment in participation of any activity in the guise of representing the good people of Southern-Ijaw federal constituency.

" Rt. Hon. Speaker Sir, we state unequivocally that this is the resolve of southern-Ijaw constituents, we hope you treat with care and utmost respect".

However, when Bodmas Kemepadei, contacted the lawmaker via telephone, Hon. Ofongo, said the allegation was untrue, and sponsored by self seeking politicians ahead of 2019.

He stressed that he is a grassroot politician and man of the people. He states that he has been alloting special welfare packages and even holding several meeting with his constituents.

Hon. Ofongo said though he was not elected for the purpose of paying school fees, attending to constituents family needs, and becoming the bread winner of their houses, yet he was trying his best.

" If somebody begs you money, and you don't give, they blackmail you, i am not elected to pay people's school fees, but i can assist, i don't have vote to pay people's school fees, i am not a chief accounting officer that has allocation, even the state government that has been helping to pay bursary depends on the availability of funds, so if people are frustrated because of the situation of the country, and they call me for school fee, house rent and others, i won't be able to do everything, i have a few number of persons under me that i have been assisting from their year one to graduation, there are some that have called me, i have not even seen them and i have assisted them in their accommodation and other needs, but i will not be able to do for everyone at the same time ".

He described the angry constituents as his political opponents, who were frustrated by the current economic situation of things

" If people are frustrated as a result of the current situation of things, they blame it on me, well the truth is that those are people who have never supported me in my elections, 2019 is coming, so they want to use this as a way of blackmail".

But Hon. Ofongo, who spoke very boldly, said he was not disturbed by their blackmail, he said there are several programs he is about to initiate which will commence soon.

" for me am not perturbed, i have gone beyond that, i started my politics as a councillor from my ward, am a grassroot politician, as a pioneer secretary of PDP in my local government, i worked for both councillors to chairmen, to assembly members, reps, governors and even president, and i have never taken my personal problems to begin to harass, intimidate, or blackmail them because i worked for them.

" There are those that are commending me based on the last social/welfare program i organised, i empowered people, people are singing my praises, but in life not everyone will praise you

" I don't believe in talking i believe in what i can do to assist people, anyone who feels he wants to blackmail me is on his own, because i know it's all about 2019", he added.

When Bodmas Kemepadei asked if he was ready to meet with the aggrieved constituents, he agreed and said yes, he said he is a man of the people and always open for superior arguments but would never succumb to blackmail and propaganda.