AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MR. CANDIDATE DELIVERERS OF WARRI SOUTH 1 CONSTITUENCY - Monoyo Edon

As the Warri South 1 by-election is upon us, I recalled what the son of a former Warri South Local Government Area chairman told me. He told me that during his father's days, the best of Itsekiris were selected to represent Itsekiri because of our neighbours quest to dwarf the Itsekiris in any and everything. His own father was called upon to be the LGA boss at the time because of his track records. This got me seriously thinking with respect to the order now obtainable in Iwereland.

Warri South is one of the oldest Local Government Areas in Nigeria. What is ironic about Warri is that development in our area does not commensurate with our agbalagba status

whereas newer LGAs are getting larger chunk of projects from successive governments. Warri is purely a city thriving on the carcasses of her old glory. We have the worst network of shallow roads in the state and probably Nigeria with darkness swirling round the city at night because of mal functional street lights. We lack modern markets and higher institutions. Our areas are far less busy economically. The only Youth Training centre in our area is under lock and key because our leaders have forgotten that such a structure exists in Warri. Omadino has another uncompleted Youth Skill acquisition centre, abandoned over 20 years ago. We hear that spirit centre has a well paid staff for that number of years. Besides the Ughoton-Omadino bridge, built during ex-Gov Ibori era, I do not know of any other new bridge that connects our riverine communities with the old and fading oil city. The General Hospital, Warri is a mess of a health care institution. Patients go with torchlights or Jerry can of fuel for generator (for those that can afford it). Corps members are over laboured as they do the jobs of the holidaying and sabbatical-loving superiors always taking study leave. This constituency reeks of outright neglect. The cosmetic flashes of road maintenance make the cymbals of underdevelopment louder.

I choose to speak with my fellow youths today through this medium for three reasons:

1. The fact that social media has become our second home and as such is the hustle ground and self-empowerment centre for some of my comrades. Like beer parlours, this is where you find most of them. They know themselves.

2. In the spirit of Colossians 4:12 and
3. As one of the victims of leadership/followership deficit salted by tempestuous misrepresentation in the history of our darling tribe.

My both parents are from Warri South. When I get married, I shall add new humans to this LGA/constituency. Will they also have a share of the swirling misrepresentation that I have suffered growing up?

This question is relatable to my comrades who have families of their own already. Will you be proud to tell your children that your choice of candidate come this by-election contributed to the further impoverishment of our constituency?

I know hunger is in the land and the desire for quick gratification -Esaurism, has already taken centre place in some of your stomachdular oblongatas. This has been the pattern with some of you -interestingly, you are the kind of youth these politicians look for. You're the kind of youth destroying the chances of other youth owing to your laziness. Another election is around the corner. Hurray!!!...opportunity for your one minute fame has surfaced...clap for yourself Mr. Deliverer of candidates...I dey use my Afika eye dey watch all una tebetebé waka. You have oiled your farm implement ready to farm your basket of sacrificial offering from these election hopefuls. Deceiving the new kids on the block and brazenly demanding your quick share of the wad from the crafty ones. It's official. We know. Itsekiri has some of the most craftiest individuals in this country. Its a given that when cunni man die na cunni man dey burry am and as such election might be the only way you milk money out of them. But let this fact not be a justification for supporting a candidate that can not actively advance our cause at the DTHA.

My brothers, be wise this time around for the sake of your children's future. Carry the right candidate. Campaign for an articulate candidate with brain upstairs. I worry because all I see on the social media are pictures of candidates. Not manifestoes; not community-based services. Candidates must not be like ipis that do not talk. House of Assembly is not a place where one keeps quiet. If your candidate doesn't have a track record in debates, or doesn't like to be engaged, what are you doing in his or her camp? We want to hear them speak, solve puzzles. Enough of supporting candidates that hide under the shade of their parties or a cabal. We are interested in candidates that can barter sound debates with fellow legislators from other ethnic groups who field their best brains -not loyalists. We are tired of this era of contractors. They can't talk where their colleagues are talking but can corner all the projects meant for Itsekiri via their many contract firms. A wise politician knows what to eat and what to give to his/her people but in Iwereland, they eat ALL. Abi una nor dey jealous Lagos state?

Those of you that belong to political parties, charge, fight, protest your party leaders to field sound and articulate candidates with antecedents or traces of vibrancy. Fielding a gbaroof is a great loss to your party. You wey collect money to support gbaroof go still suffer like all of us too. As the election is upon us,

I belong to the nonaligned unaccredited group of Itsekiri. We are not going to sleep without engaging these South 1 hopefuls. If you know your hands are clean, join us in beaming the searchlight on them. We deserve quality representation at the DTHA. If we repeat this fool's mistake this time, make any youth abi comrade nor near me say make we criticise any leader because I nor go join when you don collect your share finish as e dey hot.

Monoyo Edon of Rize FM 106.7 is a chief Watcher at the Iwere New Era Watch (INEW)