By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The former member representing Southern Ijaw Federal constituency in Federal house of Representatives Hon.Henry Ofongo has dismissed claims making round social media and national dailies that he is one of the boys to former Governor of Bayelsa State, Late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and the candidate of All Progressive Congress,( APC) for the forth coming central bye election, Chief Abel Ebifemowei.
Henry former in a press statement signed by himself and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa described the rumour as a cheap blackmail, saying he never been a boy to Abel Ebifemowei as been speculated.
The former House of Representative member noted that, the relationship between them has been cordial, adding that Abel Ebifemowei is like an elder brother to him and they have been keeping the relationship for over 20 years now.
The statement read in parts,”This information is for those who cares to know about the relationship between me ” HON. HENRY DANIEL-OFONGO AND ABEL EBIFEMOWEI”. For those who have accepted the cheap blackmail going on right now that I HON. Henry Daniel-Ofongo grew up in Femowei’s House, and that I am one of his boys, I really want to correct this false impression and set the records straight by letting you know that Abel Ebifemowei has never been my master and he is still not my master because Abel Ebifemowei is like an elder brother to me and we have been keeping our relationship like this for over 20 years now.
” Let it be known to some people who do not know very well that as at 1994 when I graduated from River State College of Education, I was already 24 to 25 years old, and I never knew both Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha (Our late respected leader and First Civilian Governor of Bayela State and Abel Ebifemowei). As at 1996 to 1997 when I contested and won my first election as Councillor Representing Ward 6 (Igbumutoru) in Southern Ijaw LGA on the platform of the UNCP, I had not known both of them.
“I only came to know Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha when myself and Rt.Hon. Obolo Bubou went to Yenagoa and met Chief Otenna Apriala who took us to meet Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha because we were supposed to be part of the Statutory Delegates that would have voted in our Party Primary elections to produce a Governorship Candidate.
” After the meeting, our late leader offered to give us transport fair back to Oporomo, but we refused to accept the offer because we never wanted him to think that we were there to see him because of money. It was at this point that Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha had the trust and confidence on me.
” In the middle of 1997 the entire political processes and structures were dissolved following the death of our late Head of State – Gen. Sani Abarcha.
New structures with multiple political parties were eventually formed when Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar took over as Head of State.
” It was at this point I became close to Abel Ebifemowei when he came back from abroad to support his cousin for the Governorship Elelection.
” Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha eventually became Governor by God’s special grace, and it was at this point that Abel Ebifemowei asked me to come and stay in one room in one of the flats in government house because he knew how seriously and committedly I worked for his cousin’s electoral victory.
Towards the end of Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha’s first tenure as Governor, there became a vacuum in the LGAs and Abel Ebifemowei made sure that I was among the Eight persons that were appointed as CTC Chairmen.
” On June 22nd we were inaugurated, and we were immediately invited by the the Governor for a meeting with him, and the main agenda of the meeting was the discussion towards his second term bid, and the major agreement was for us to support him to come back for his second term; and that we as Chairmen would be subsequently elected as Substantive LGA Chairmen.
” Soon after the successful election, Abel Ebifemowei, Big Steve and Big Joe held a meeting with Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and concluded that we the Eight LGA CTC Chairmen should be removed from office, and also not to be returned as Substantive LGA Chairmen.
” We were eventually removed from office sequel to the decisions reached in their meeting with the Governor as at that time. We did not complain and still remained very loyal and committed to the government.
” In 2005 when Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha had his political travails I was still committed to him and stood with him till the end, but what did I get in return from both Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and Abel Ebifemowei? It was a gang up against my House of Representatives bid because Chief DSP brought his son Tombra to contest against me, though he was disqualified during the party screening process, whilst Abel Ebifemowei sponsored Mr. Akpoebi against me in the general elections. But Almighty God by His special grace allowed me to win that election with the support of the Southern Ijaw people.
” The same incident repeated itself in 2015 when Chief DSP plotted to scuttle my second term bid with the then Governor Seriake Dickson, Speaker Kombowei Benson and others by sponsoring Hon. Nimibofa against me. It was still God Almighty’s Devine intervention that helped me to win that election.
“So, the big question is this: At what time did Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and Abel Ebifemowei supported me to grow politically, considering how I committedly worked for them and got a very stiff opposition from them during my Two House of Representatives elections of 2011 and 2015? This could be likened to a situation where ” A MOTHER HAD A CHILD AND TRIED TO STRANGLE THE CHILD TO DEATH, AND ABANDONED THE CHILD THINKING HE/SHE WAS DEAD, BUT WAS LETTER SAVED BY SOMEONE ELSE ” Can that parent come to claim that she helped that CHILD to grow up ? I am not saying all these out of hatred or vengeance, but I am rather telling the truth about my relationship with both Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and Abel Ebifemowei, and I also want to state that I can still say these same statements in the presence of all those who are still alive today,”.he stated.
