I deserve a second chance – Leo Ogor Posted by admin on April 30, 2014 in Interviews | 0 Comment Rt. Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor is the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representative, representing Isoko constituency. In this interview shortly after the interactive section held with Umeh Need Road group and all other indigenous groups in Isoko and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, he speaks on issues affecting the federal constituency. Excerpts: Sir you just had an interactive section with Umeh Need Road group and all other indigenous groups from your Federal Constituency, what is your take on some of the issues raised? Well first and foremost I think there is this lack of communication and it has become a very major problem to all of us but I believe that the interactive section was quite educative as I have been able to know some of their challenges and problems and I think also that they are leaving here more educated in respect of what the job of a lawmaker is. I was not ready to point out the volume of infrastructure that we have driven into the constituency but they have shown clearly that almost about 80-90percent pass mark was almost taken because in most of the places where they did not believe that there are projects just employment opportunities given to their sons and daughters we were able to establish that and we went the extra mile of giving them names of the people that have been employed in those particular areas so it was quite educative, very interesting and it is something that I would want to hold on a regular basis. What is the way forward haven listened to some of the complaints and threats of boycotting election in 2015 if nothing is done before then? Yea I think I heard that from about two communities but those people were making reference to issues that has not been completed in their constituencies they did not talk about those that have been completed and I appealed to them that they should not adopt that particular spirit because two wrongs does not make a right but let me assure you that it is my responsibility as their law maker, their representative to look into those complaints as they are quite genuine, they are germane and I believe that they are issues that I need to address it is meant for me to tackle those challenges . During the interactive section the Umeh Need Road group advocated for periodic constituency briefing to keep those in the constituency of your stewardship, what is your reaction to that? Let me state clearly that the whole thing bothers on interpretation, when you talk of constituency briefing it depends on what you understand by constituency briefing. Constituency briefing is telling people what you are doing and what you intend doing, what is happening and everybody also know what I am doing; you have documents showing clearly what I have done. I keep briefing the constituency almost on a daily, weekly basis except probably you are insisting that Leo must call a meeting into a place, and a town hall meeting to tell us what he has done. What we did today is more of a constituency briefing so the interpretation of constituency briefing might be different to different people. But if there is anybody that has been briefing in this constituency I believe Leo Ogor Okuweh is one, because there is nothing that I have not done, you are aware of the Isoko ring road and I came and announced, that is also part of the constituency briefing except probably you want me to come and sit down catalogue everything I have done and start reading them one by one and you call that a constituency briefing. I do not think it is in our collective interest. How effective is the social media? Well for meI think there is a lot of negative and positive side of it because you do not have that right to fair hearing in that particular medium which is the clear provision of section 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended, somebody will just wake up take you there and take you to the gutters without even hearing the truth but I think sometimes it is a means of communication essentially where the authors of those particular events are passing the right information, we should avoid passing this negative information mostly publications that are very false. I believe the right to know is of everybody is right but they should report nothing but the truth. There are some group of men and women that are busy reporting nothing but lies and I think they are not doing any good to the social media; they are indirectly even destroying the social media. To some people, you have influenced more projects to Ozoro community compared to others, how do you stand to correct this impression? Well first and fore most like I told them and I did explain yes I probably must have sited a lot of projects in Ozoro due to the controversial 28KM road that was reduced to 15.2KM due to stone base and the drainage. But I tell people that look Ozoro is a Local Government Headquarters, we will not tar those roads twice as soon as these roads are tarred weare taking the development to other areas.It becomes very important that we must have the headquarters that will befit its status. I believe that it is my core responsibility also to take other developmental projects to other areas and I assure them that sincerely I am going to do that but let me also remind you that Ozoro people are complaining, they are saying that no they have not had enough and if you take me out there you will be surprised that Ozoro people will take me to the gutters because they will tell you that no we have not had our fair share. A lot of people are asking why you seek to go back again and not the younger ones. My right to contest, my right to vote and be voted for is a fundamental right, it is enshrined if I am not wrong under the provision of section 40 of the constitution, my freedom from discrimination also is there under section 32 of the constitution.But it will be so suicidal that today you have the deputy majority leader the leader of the south-south coming from the Isoko federal constituency that is minority within a minority and I think as it stands today Leo Okuweh Ogor is your first eleven because if for any reason the people in the south-south, people all over the country can recognize me and say Leo, give us leadership, lead us because you have the quality, the necessary prerequisite to take us to that particular level it becomes very important that we look at the level of projects that I have attracted within this short period into Isoko. Do you want to send a novice who will not be able to navigate the contours of that particular place that will end up coming home with probably 30 million naira constituency project, if we say that we do not want such development then I think we will not be doing Isoko any good and I state with all emphasis that you see, people should learn to respect some people’s right. If you go to America, people have stayed in the parliament there for 50 years, the Kennedy’s are on record. Is it because it is Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor? What is it that I have done wrong that people will say oh give other people a chance when you have something that is going well please give the person the opportunity to serve. I believe that as it stands today in respect of the National Assembly, specifically, the House of Representatives, there is no equal to Hon. Leo Ogor. I am not saying this, because I am trying to probably oil my own ego, but the statistics are there for you, bring out any other person, and give him the right. I am not saying people should not contest against me. I welcome the challenges I welcome the ability to contest with other people. I like moving in there. I want to go and talk to the people. I like competition and the best at every given time, will emerge and I believe that Leo Okuweh Ogor is still the best for the time being, there might be a replacement but not now.
Posted on: Sun, 25 May 2014 16:00:21 +0000
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