ORHIONMWON/UHUNMWODE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY SEAT 2027: WHY THE UNWRITTEN AGREEMENT MUST BE HONORED IN THE INTEREST OF THE COLLECTIVE FUTURE.

 

By;Eddie Ogiehor.

At the advent of this current democratic dispensation in 1999, the wise elders of Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode federal Constituency came together in a show of love and mutual respect to collectively agree on a representative rotation of power between the two local government councils.

This agreement, although unwritten, became the source of an equitable distribution of power between Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode. First was our own highly respected former member of the House of Representatives and former deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu from Orhionmwon, who represented the federal Constituency from 1999 to 2007. He was succeeded by the Rt. Hon. Dr. Samson Raphael Osagie from Uhunmwode local government council, who served from 2007 to 2015. Dr. Osagie was succeeded by the Rt. Hon. Patrick Aisowieren from Orhionmwon Local Government Council from 2011 to 2023. Hon. Aisowieren was succeeded by the incumbent representative in the Green Chamber, Hon. Chief Dr. Billy Osawaru, who is serving his first term in office and has proven to be a very vocal and dependable voice on the floor of the Federal House of Representatives.

It is pertinent for reasons of elucidation and clarity to state that all aforementioned names, except for Chief Billy Osawaru, for now, served an unbroken two terms in office, thus religiously keeping to the UNWRITTEN AGREEMENT between Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode local government councils, and that has effectively maintained the peaceful transition from one representative to another since 1999.

The danger in not allowing Hon. Chief Dr. Billy Osawaru to complete his two terms in office is the fact that it will alter the existing agreement, as no one wants to be a one-term representative, thus setting the stage for an unprecedented political battle between Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode local government councils in 2031.

Orhionmwon leaders must be aware that not supporting Hon. Billy will pitch them into a serious future political crisis that will be the final burial of the much-talked-about UNWRITTEN AGREEMENT

Uhunmwode political leaders must also understand that, irrespective of what they think and how they feel, they cannot throw away the baby and the bathwater. They must understand that political agreements must not be sacrificed on the altar of personal grievances. They must also understand that if Hon. Billy is not returned to the Green chamber, and future political tension ensues, Uhunmwode local government will be greatest looser as they do not have the numbers to contend with Orhionmwon local government area in view of its population that can win them elections anytime any day and if that happens, the agreement would have been successfully jettisoned thus paving the way for Orhionmwon to constantly produce future house of Representatives members at the expense of Uhunmwode local government Area.

This article is written in the realization of the fact that Chief Dr. Billy Osawaru remains the only credible option and the assurance of Uhunmwode's continuous relevance in the future political scheme of things. 

We must, as a local government, rally behind the continuity of credible representation by supporting the nominationand return of Hon. Chief Dr. Billy Osawaru as the Honorable member representing the good people of Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for a second term. 

A stitch in time saves nine. 

Eddie Ogiehor writes from Ehor, the administrative headquarters of the Uhunmwode local government council.