The present Degema local govt area is made up of nine communities with seventeen wards. These autonomous communities are bakana, tombia, obuoma(harrys town), ke, old bakana,(oguruama), Degema, Usokun- degema, bille and bukuma-agum. While the first five are kalabari communities, the last four are non-kalabari communities. In a well attended extra-ordinary meeting of the four non kalabari kingdoms in Delga on sunday July 24, 2016, the following observations were carefully noted after a thorough analysis of the issues at stake whose central theme was/is the political marginalisation of the for non kalabari kingdoms in Delga by their compatriots/neighbours. OBSERVATION 1. That from 1981-2015, ten elected chairmen had piloted the affairs of the Delga council. and none was from the non kalabari kingdom see the list below. 1 Ibifuro (buguma) 1981-82. 2. Sokari quakers dokubo ( Abonema) 1985-89. 3. Prince benibo (soku) 1991. 4. Given braude (bakana) 1992. 5. Daobu Harry (obuama) 1996.6. Betterland Davies (Tombia) 1998. 7. Pleasant Braide (bakana) 1999-2002. 8. Tonye philmore (bakana) 2004-2007. 9. Abiye Davies ( tombia) 2007-2010. 10. Daddy pokima (tombia) 2010-2015. All from kalabari extractions. If the marginalisation of the non kalabari by their kalabari neighbours in Delga as exposed by the list above is disappointing, disquieting and a disservice. The revelation by the list below is not only disquieting but also disempowering and destructive. Elected and appointed office holders into local/state/federal government positions from degem local government area(1999-2010). Sir Dr Peter Odili's tenure (1st cabinet) 1999-2003. 1. Hon ene dateme, commissioner for information from tombia '2. Hon abiiye Davies chairman degema LGA from Tombia, hon Pleasant Braide chairman degema LGA from bakana' 4 hon ibifiri obu Davies, chairman caretaker committee degema from tombia, .5. Hon ombo benibo! Chairman caretaker from Tombia. 6. Hon Abiye Davies chairman degema LGA from tombia. 7. Late hon Tonye harry deputy speaker RSHA from obuama (harrys town) and 8. Late dr martyns yellowe. Senator from bakana all of kalabari extractions. Sir Dr Peter Odili's second tenure.( 1st caabinet) 2003-2007 position occupied by Delga. 1. Dr martyns yellowe senator from bakana. 2 hon Tonye harry deputy speaker RSHA from onuama (harrys town). 3. Hon Tonye philmore executive chairman from bakana, 4 hon Emily solomon commissioner for special duties from degema. 5. Hon ipalibo harry special adviser on environment and chairman RSESA. 6. Hon Engr Mrs felicity okpete ovai commissioner for works from degema. 7. Hon ben orugbami commissioner for civil service commission from old bakana. 8. Hon ombo benibo special adviser to his excellency from tombia and 9. Hon Abiye Davis chairman pdp degema LGA from tombia. Sir Barr celestine omehia's tenure. Position alloted to Delga 1. Hon eldred T C Braide commissioner for energy from bakana. 2. Hon osaki dick abbey chairman caretaker committee.3. Hon mc jaja amachree chairman caretaker committee from bukuma, 4.hom asobari peters chairman caretaker committee from ke. 5 hon Abiye Davies Chirman pdp Delga from tombia,6. Hon sokonte Davies member house of reps from tombia and 7. Hon Tonye harry speaker RSHA from obuama (harrys town). RT hon chibuike Amaechi tenurem positions alloted to Delga. 1. Hon Tonye harry speaker RSHA from obuama (harrys town). 2. Hon sokonte Davies member house of reps from tombia. 3. Hon (mrs) Vivien Braide commissioner for women affairs from tombia.4 hon Abiye Davies executive chairman of degema LGA from tombia. 5. Hon eldred T C Braide commissioner RS civil service commission from bakana. 6 Mr iboroma D harry special adviser on culture and tourism from obuama. 7. Mr ben orugbami commissioner RS civil service commission from old bakaana and 8. Mr elias Davies pdp chairman degema LGA from bakana. In the present Rivers state government. Bakana (kalabari) alone is represented politically in four strategic establishments. These include civil service commission ( hon Tonye philmore), local government service commission (hon pleasant braide), Rivers state microfinance bank(mr ipalibo sogules) nd governing council" ignattius Ajuru university of Education ( prof. Victor omuaru) board member. Other kalabari communities in Delga that re politically relevant in the present dispensation are obuama (Dr mrs ipalibo harry Banigo deputy governor, tombia (hon doctor farah dagogo RSHA member, old bakana/ oguruama ( hon. Damiete herbert miller commissioner for social welfare and rehabilitation. The only exception to the rule is from degema town non kalabari (hon Engr Mrs Felicity ovai an officer. Road maintenance agency. At the local government (delga) level. Caretaker chairmanship revolves among Ke+kalabri (hon barr Tmunotein Asobari! Buguma+kalabari (asalga) hon Tonye tyger and bakama+kalabari hon Agiobu fubara. 2. That even in other political positions, whether through election or appointment. Like membership of the federal House of reps. State house of assembly. Commissioners, chairmen and members of the numerous bords that abound in the state, the four non+klabari in delga were abandoned to their fate. However. Some few sporadic exceptions were recorded who after thorough scrutiny are found to either have some sprinkling of kalabari blood in their veins or some externl forces forced these exceptional down the greedy throats of our baneful brother. Some of these exceptions include hon Engr mrs Felicity Okpete Ovai and Hon mrs Emily solomon who were appointed by sir Dr Peter Odili, the then governor of River Stte who refuse to be negatively influenced by the selfish politics of our kalabari brothers in delga. For the occupation of the delga chairmanship seat only one from the non klabari kingdom had been exceptionally lucky. Even though he functioned only as caretaker committee chairman. He was late kelsey lambert from degema who was blackmailed out of office with a barrage of ethnic sponsored spurious allegations nd petitions. R. That from the few highlighted treacherous treatment, injurious injustice and discriminatory acts ( both overt and covert) meted out to the non-kalabari compatriots in Delga. We have come to the unavoidable conclusion that there is. Criminal conspiracy by the despotic kalabri politicians in delga to compel their non-kalabari counterparts to commit political harakiri by denying them of all the jucy political pies that accrue to the LGA. .4. That it is indisputable fact that both in size(land mass) and populatio (voting strenght), the four non+kalabari communities far outsize and out number the kalabari communities in delga. This simply means that the former has a sperior electoral value than the latter. 5. That as per qulificaation, that is educationally, it only amounts to stating the obvious that the indigens of the non kalabari communities are as qualified for every political position in delga, Rivers state and Nigeria as their counterparts in the kalabari communities in Delga. OUR PRAYERS. 1. The politically negleted people of degema, Usokun,Bille and bukuma in delga do hereby plead with our "talk and do" governor chief Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (CON) to please take a hard look at the indignities we had suffered, and are still suffering, in the coarse and cruel hands of our kalbari "brother" in delga and urgently do something to reverse this ugly trend in the interest of "justice", fairness and equity, the foundational tripod on which our great party, PDP stands "gidigbally". 2. The Apex committee in delga as presently constituted is negatively skewed against the interests of the Non+kalabari communities and should therefore be re+organised to serve not only the parochil interest of the kalabari but lso of the non+kalabaris in delga. 3. We appeal to the governor to please use his good office to appoint credible sons and daughters of the four non+kalabari communities in delga into positions of trust in order to give the people a sense of belonging. 4. The representatives of the four Non+kalabari communities in delga are eagerly looking forward to meeting with the impartial, responsible and responsive governor, if he so pleases, at a venue and date to be fixed by him where we caan have the opportunity to dialogue extensively with him on the way forward for the aggrieved "Delga Four" communities in particular and the degema LGA in general. Finally, we hereby state unequivocally that we have the unflinching confidence in the abilty of our impartial, law+abiding and God fearing governor to amicably resolve all the issues we have painstakingly articulated in this communique. 1. Bille kingdom. 1. High chief Bebeowibo Jacob (leader 08083108993). 2. Mr Reginard S. Dein. 3. Mr Dagogo George secondus. 4. Mr Awoibi amaso. 2.BUKUMA. 1 mr Tonye Alex Fubara (leader 08033401325). 2. Mr wisdom Tobins 3. Mr Claudius Olari. 4. Mr Robinson Ibitrokoemi. 3. USOKUN+DEGEMA. 1. Rev Barr. Steve Marcus (chairman 08033183902). 2. Deacon Whoknows Daniels. 3. Mr Tamadu Enu+oso. 4. Mr Teinbo Bestman. 4. DEGEMA. 1. Mr kpe Fiddo (leader 08037107836). 2. Mr Wokoma Venus. 3. Mr Okiete Solomon. 4. Mr Soberekon george

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