By Oghenekevwe Laba
LAGOS SEPTEMBER 21ST (URHOBOTODAY0- Commissioner representing Ughelli North and Ethiope-East Local Government Areas of Delta State in the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Hon. (Chief) Chris Obiuwevbi Ominimini has been honoured with the award of the “Most Accessible Public Office Holder in the South-South Region” by a group under the aegis of South-South Youth Assembly (SSYA).
Bestowing the award on the DESOPADEC Boss who is also the Founder and Chairman of Urhobo Political Movement (UPM) at Ughelli, Delta State on Tuesday, President of SSYA, Mr Amstrong Ovie-Afabor said they are honouring Ominimini with the prestigious award because of his astute support for Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s three point agenda, his strong advocacy for good governance in Delta State and his commitment to peace, security and sustainable development in Niger Delta Region.
Beside the aforementioned reasons, Ovie-Afabor pointed out that Ominimini open door policy coupled with his humble, philanthropic and detribalized administrative approach are another striking factors for honouring with the award.
The South South Youth Assembly is a regional youth organization of the South South Geo-Political zone of Nigeria. It is the mouth piece of our youths. It is made up of ethnic youth organizations,NGO,s, youth leaders and professionals of South- South extraction. The group believed in equity and fair play in the distribution and allocation of the resources of our Nation, which is a bases for the indivisibility and oneness of our great country.
Thanking members of SSYA for honouring him with such a prestigious award, Ominimini pointed out that what the group has done is to prove to the world that it is good to be accessible, adding that the dividend of a public office and public service holder accessibility.
“If a public officer is not accessible, the dividend accruing to his office will be cut shut,” he noted.
He maintained that the action of the group would encourage him to open his to people than it used to be.
According to him, “And again your action have encouraged me to open my door to the people than it used to be. Another child is born today. By the grace of God, the entire Niger-Delta and South-South region will reap from the fruit of the labour you have just cultivated today.
“I have just gone through the internet to look at the contribution of this group to see whether this group has been existing. The internet proves them right. For example when men were men and women were won by those who deserve them, South-South Youth Assembly was able to prove their point. For example, when Late President Musa Yar’Adua was sick, the group made a pronouncement. When people were attacking Akpabio, the group was also there to add their voice.”
Speaking on President Goodluck Jonathan second term bid, Ominimini who is a protagonist of Jonathan second term bid said the constitution is very clear on the issue that a Nigerian President is legible to context for second term, adding that for the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan has only contested ones, therefore he is free to contest for second term.
He maintained that it is only the President who can stop himself from not contesting for the highest office in Nigeria.
According to the DESOPADEC Boss, “Nigeria constitution is very clear on the issue. A president is legible to context two times. President Goodluck Jonathan has contested only ones and therefore he is free to contest for the second time. The only person who can stop President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting for second tenure is himself. That is if he decides that he is not running again.”
He argued that President Goodluck Jonathan has no choice but to run for the office of the President for second term because he is in there for an errand representing the interest of the people of South-South and Niger-Delta region.
“I am calling on President Goodluck Jonathan that he has no choice but to run for second term. He is there for an errand for the South-South and Niger-Delta people. We have no other candidate. We sent him to the presidency to represent us for eight years and he has not even completed his first year tenure.
“We are calling on South-South indigenes that anybody who is being used by any Northern leader or any leader from anywhere to disrupt the ambition of Goodluck Jonathan should have a rethink. Having said this, I will call on all the Niger-Delta people and we will organize a well spread rally to send signal to all political distracters of Jonathan that he is not there for himself but to represent the South-South and the entire people of Niger-Delta,” Ominimini disclosed.