RE: WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY: WHY WE MUST SEND OUR BEST LEGISLATOR TO THE HOUSE

The seat for the Warri Federal Constituency is a very hot one as the political parties are in a fight for supremacy and relevance.  Yours truly (Fimtvblog) got a juicy story today from her newsdesk, a rejoinder from Warri People Mandate, read it below:

WARRI PEOPLES MANDATE
          No. 1 Airport Road by Angle Park Junction, Warri, Delta State
           GSM: 07088175411



RE: WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY:
WHY WE MUST SEND OUR BEST LEGISLATOR TO THE HOUSE  Our attention has been drawn to a publication with the above title credited to one Dr. Frederick Oritseweneye Pessu and some other named persons in the online version of the Vanguard Newspaper of the 10th day of January, 2019, wherein they extravagantly set out in a bizarre fashion; a bundle of lies, half-truth and such a negatively creative level of fabrication of events which only true sons and daughters of the soil familiar with unfolding of events can identify as such. It is particularly spiteful of the named person and his cohorts to have continued to share the publication on several social media platforms with the obvious objective of demeaning the candidacy of some persons and advancing that of Honourable Daniel Reyenieju in the forthcoming elections. The occupant of a position for 12 consecutive years, should have sufficient materials with which to advocate his reelection bid instead of this subtle, obsolete and lackluster strategy to blackmail the electorate. But perhaps, the scale of failure of his performance may not provide him with such advocacy materials.     


As key political stakeholders in the Warri Federal Constituency, we have the moral and ethical duty not to allow a thoroughfare of such scale of wholesale lies and fabrications that unquestionably characterized the said publication. After all, it was Karl Marx who once said; “to leave an error unrefuted is to encourage intellectual immorality”. Propelled by this great injunction, we presently set out to treat the relevant content of the said publication in the manner shown hereunder:

On the issue of leadership in Itsekiri immediately before, during and after the Warri crisis of 1997 to 2004:

We acknowledge the unequalled contribution of nationalists like Pa. O. A Rewane, Chief O.N Rewane, the then Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom amongst others whose labour we pray and struggle on an hourly and daily basis, should never be in vain. However, we completely disagree with Dr. Frederick Oritseweneye Pessu and his co-travelers that persons like Dr. Leigh, Dr. Roland Oritsejafor and Late Engr.  Toritsemose in any way overturned the fortune of our people as it is common knowledge that the aforesaid leaders whose integrity, intellectual prowess and skilful devotion to community service account significantly for the political progress of the Warri Kingdom. They unquestionably have their places reserved in the hall of fame even though their efforts may not necessarily win them a Nobel Prize. However, their contributions remain outstanding and far overshadow the performance of the youths that subsequently emerged as leaders including Honourable Daniel Reyenieju whose thrust remains the monopoly of power, political and economic space and whom the common people have comically excused for the literal translation of his name; “Reyenieju” meaning, “humans are wicked”. The people of Warri Federal Constituency now understand that the name you call a child is a mirror of what he becomes. Little wonder that a renowned Chief of Warri kingdom called on him only four years ago to go and do a baptismal change.     

On the emergence of Hon Daniel Reyenieju as the pioneer Chairman of the Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC):

The impression created by Dr. Pessu and his co-travelers must be corrected; as they wrongfully suggested that the emergence of Honourable Daniel Reyenieju as Chairman of the INYC was as a result of some special managerial skills and adroitness; instead it was due to the need to pick a person without any manifest affiliation to any of the parties to the then existing conflict between the two major Youth bodies in Warri Kingdom, the Iwere Development Association (IDA) and the Warri Social Development Association(WSDA). Permit us to note that at the material time, there were very few people who were not affiliated to either of the groups. In fact only those not active in the service of community fitted into this class.  At that material time, Honourable Daniel could not have made the list, if the key consideration had been managerial competence, adroitness and skilful devotion to community service. At that time few were those who expressed reservations about the choice of Honourable Daniel Reyenieju and true to the suspicion of this minority who in retrospect knew him more intimately, Honourable Daniel Reyenieju demonstrated the lack of managerial skills, incomparable selfishness and divineness that resulted in deeper disunity than was ever known amongst the youths and middle aged in over 500 years of the existence of Itsekiri as a people. As a matter of fact, the mischief sought to be suppressed by electing to have him as Chairman was elevated to an unimaginable height; one far worse than was known under the IDA and WSDA regimes. His leadership style can be said to be the source of most of the problems in Iwere nation today. This is the sentiment on the streets!

On the issue of opportunity that emerged after the crisis:

In an apparent but weak effort to divert attention from the source of the tsunamic wealth of their Principal, it was also suggested by Dr. Pessu and his cohorts that the opportunities that emerged after the crisis were not as a result of the crisis but only a coincidence with same. This cannot be said to be true at all especially with regards to the emergence of Honourable Daniel Reyenieju on the political landscape. As we have pointed out earlier, Daniel Reyenieju was not chosen to be the pioneer Chairman of the INYC due to any managerial skills or prowess but due to the need to have a person without manifest affiliation with any of the then conflicting groups. It was his position as Chairman of the INYC that led to his emergence as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2007 election for Warri Federal Constituency in the National Assembly; due again not to the fact that he possessed or demonstrated any special managerial or intellectual prowess but a need to promote one whom the youths had chosen as a leader. Sadly, it was a choice between the former holder of the position, a lawyer of over thirty years post call experience, outspoken legislator, a powerful influencer, Hon Temi Harriman and Honourable Daniel Reyenieju without any profile whatsoever except that he was the INYC Chairman. Where was Dr. Pessu and his group at this time? Assuming but not conceding that there is any element of merit in their allegations against any other candidate in the ongoing race for the Warri Federal Constituency seat in the National Assembly, one cannot but ask; what happened to the saying that what is good to the goose is good for the gander. Could Honourable Daniel Reyenieju in all honesty have been preferred to Honourable Temi Harriman then? The idea was and still remains that the headmaster was once a school boy; and every “Best Legislator” (Even if Honourable Daniel Reyenieju qualifies as one) was once without any legislative experience. We can and should be desirous of making more experienced hands. Please let us be guided! 

On the issue of Daniel Reyeniju continuing to be a political leader:
Another impression created by the publication of Dr. Pessu which we consider is worthy of correction is that Honourable Daniel Reyenieju remains a political leader.

Let us just say that the relationship between Honourable Daniel Reyenieju and the political party through which he became relevant the PDP, is like that between the refrigerator and electricity that powers it. Can anyone point out any significant political position Daniel Reyenieju attained outside the PDP? The very obvious answer is none. What after all, is leadership?

In our very humble opinion, leadership cannot exist without sacrifice and consideration for others; without selflessness and consideration of issues beyond oneself. Here is a man who was offered the ticket of the PDP on a platter of gold on three different and consecutive occasions and was supported by the party to win the seat of Warri Federal Constituency in National Assembly. The only time he was expected to demonstrate selfless leadership was in 2018, when he contested the primaries of the PDP in an open and competitive primaries and lost. A leader would think beyond his personal interest. But what did he do? He defected; for whose interest? For his selfish and personal interest. We do not agree that this is leadership by any standard. Many have supported him to win elections in the past and now is the time he ought to have paid back and all he appears to understand to take and take and take; never to give. Could this be the best model of leadership that Dr. Pessu is exposed to? If yes then something urgent needs to be done for the sake of the future generation.

On the issue of Honourable Daniel Reyenieju being a good example for the youths:

Also created by the said publication is the impression that  Honourable Daniel Reyenieju is a good example for the youths to emulate.

It must be noted that Reyenieju’s occupation of the Chairmanship of the INYC was one that transformed him into a budding Mugabe both in form and substance; as he has either stayed beyond his tenure, arranged for his bosom friends and associates whom he can lead by the nose to occupy the position; showing complete disrespect and disregard for our revered crown. If anything at all, the Reyenieju’s example is one that every ethnic group, community, and people must pray not to have. Here is man, whose constituents had to practically demonstrate and take to the streets for days, before he reluctantly released hundreds of tricycles, sewing machines and other poverty alleviation packages from the government; most of which had been degraded due to poor storage.  It is this same man who has continued to keep training and job slots locked up in his bedroom instead of allowing those for whom they are meant to benefit to use them. A man who will not employ anyone from his locality in his company. He is known to be very vindictive and unsympathetic to the people generally. We see that Dr. Pessu and his cohorts perhaps are starved of information that can save them from their current innocent path which has the tendency to lead them to the chronic and unimaginable loss of reputation. They are therefore enjoined to step on their breaks as they now appear to be unconsciously threading on grounds they know absolutely nothing about. Look around the man; who do you see prospering?  Honourable Daniel Reyeniju’s woeful performance as an aspirant in the PDP with one of the least number of votes in the 2018 primaries after 12 years of occupation of that office, is not one any youth should emulate. Even if he had to lose, the abysmal result is a thing of concern; out of six (6) candidates he came 4 fourth with 74 votes out of over 395 accredited delegates. If he was a successful businessman before he joined politics why should he now be desperate to remain in office?

What Daniel Reyenieju should do:

As it is well righty said; no man is indispensable. Consequently, all that Dr. Pessu may have credited Honourable Daniel Reyenieju with in the area of his achievements; including his business exploits will not cease to be if he does not return to the National Assembly for only a year, assuming that he is even as great as he is being painted. We therefore advise him not to present himself to the public as a man who cannot survive without being in the National Assembly. Is there something more about this seat that the public does not know?  After all, a leader does not have to occupy position to be a leader.

Dr. Pessu and his colleagues are possibly academics and should be familiar with the following words of John C. Maxwell, one of the foremost leadership thinkers of this generation; “Leadership is not about titles, position or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another”. Let Daniel Reyenieju move into another spectrum of leadership.

It may be the divine time for Honourable Reyenieju to play a leadership role from a new spectrum. As a man that has benefitted from the goodwill of the people for 12 consecutive years, we suggest that Daniel Reyenieju should listen to the voice of the people. They rejected him only for the position and not for other roles. Please demonstrate some consideration for others! If Hon Temi  Harriman  had this your Mugabe propensity you would never have been to the House. Tomorrow may be your turn again. Honourable Daniel Reyenieju, return to the PDP from where you started and which accounts for all your political gains and benefits, before it is too late. Our fathers say that: “refrigerators that disconnect from their sources of electricity will become a cupboard for storing of junks”. PDP is your electricity and you are the refrigerator. You have erred and should retrace your steps before it is too late. It is not our wish for you to become a cupboard for storing junks. So, do the needful now that there is still time.

Dr. Pessu, Honourable Daniel can give his support for the amnesty program, provide support for the candidate of the PDP to be elected and provide guidance for him when he is elected; should the need arise as no man is a repository of knowledge. After all Honourable Daniel was a first timer in 2007 and needed to be guided; he was guided even though he refused to heed guidance. Learn to work for people who have at one time or the other worked for you. The world does not revolve around any human being. A word should be enough for the wise but like a dog that is destined to be lost in the forest, we suspect that this man might disregard our admonition. He has failed once and can fail again!

Signed:

Eroro Tenumah,
Omayuwa Pemu,
Emiko Awala,


Warri Peoples Mandate