Show us Burutu fed. Constituency projects worth N323 million in three years, group tells Pondi

• Pondi is a blessing to people of Burutu fed. Constituency- Amb.Yerinmene Jnr

RT. Hon. Julius Pondi, federal law maker representing Burutu federal constituency

WARRI- A pressure group, Vanguard for Infrastructure and Human Capacity Development in Burutu LGA, Delta State has called on Hon. Julius Pondi to give account of how he spent the sum of  N323 million (three hundred and twenty three millions nairas) as annual federal government budget for Burutu federal constituency received on behalf of the people for the past three years.

The group national coordinator, Mr. Tuodolo Ekpolaemiyo in a press statement sent to Daily Watch has accused the federal law maker, Hon. Julius Pondi of squandering money meant for Burutu constituency projects. They also accused him of being inactive and inefficient in the discharge of the day to day legislative business to attract federal development to the council area. They therefore, urged the good people of Burutu federal constituency to kick Pondi out in 2019 for an effective and sound representation.

But a youth leader and Niger Delta activist from Pondi’s political campaign organization, Amb Arerebo Yerinmene Jnr has described the allegations against his principal Hon. Julius Pondi in his official facebook page as mere allegations without foundation as being sponsored by his political rivals and detractors. That Pondi is a blessing to the people of Burutu LGA. ‘‘He is working and must go for second tenure to the federal law house to represent the good people of Burutu federal constituency in 2019’’ Yerinmene quipped.

According to him ‘‘Hon. Pondi as a national legislator is a blessing to Burutu and          Ijaw nation. For the past two years, Burutu people have been enjoying genuine dividends of democracy through Rt.Hon. Julius Pondi representation as national legislator. No doubt, Hon. Pondi as an imperfect human and lawmaker also has his shortcomings but he has done well for the good people of Burutu and Ijaw Nation despite the economic recession the country is facing.

‘‘Following comparative analysis, his representation is apparently unique, he has democratically refined Burutu federal constituency to a level that dividends of democracy is brought to the constituents door steps

‘‘As a first timer in the National Assembly, he has been able to create a nitch for himself in the green chambers and the National Assembly by making contributions that every Burutu and Ijaw person can relate with, as a square peg in a square hole.

‘‘On human capacity building and empowerment, Pondi has done well as an opposition lawmaker in the chamber. Numerous laudable human empowerment programmes have been carried out to change the challenging history of constituents, educational scholarship has being offered to constituents and educational materials delivered to schools across the constituency. The records are there in the archive for verification’’ he defended his principal.

But the group, Vanguard for infrastructure and human Capacity development insists the law maker has done nothing and urged him to convene a town hall meeting to point out his completed or ongoing federal government projects influenced by his three years in office in the national assembly.

The group reaction to a statement credited to Rep Pondi on a National daily Pg31 of Vanguard 22nd April, 2018 saying “my records are there for people to see”

‘‘We want to make bold and challenge Rep Pondi to at least name some of the federal government projects his 3years have brought with about  N323million constituency funds received so far as revealed by his counterpart from Ughelli North/South/Udu federal constituency Hon. Solomon Awhinawhi being published in an online Vanguard April 3rd, 2018. The records, he claims we could see on ground and we have seen the failure coupled with inability to influence federal presence to the region and that of failure to execute constituency projects with the over N300million fund being received so far in his three years.

‘‘We truly need records that could be reckoned with and not those in the blue moon and social media. A legislator is bid to making laws which moving a motion is part of the bid, the beauty of motion is always getting the approval of the president and not just any or those that rot in the dustbin of house committee.

‘‘We therefore assert that, in the three years of Rep Pondi, the Burutu federal constituency is yet to have her fair share of projects from either of the federal government directly or through its intervention agencies. This is coming amidst the N323m being received by Rep Pondi so far in his 3yrs as constituency projects. What we have seen so far is a replicate of the old ways where Tricycle and such other artisan packs being given to selected loyalists as an empowerment scheme being done as constituency projects.

Another thing to note is the Introduction of Julius Pondi Peace Cup 1st and 2nd edition.

Peace as the world would bear us witness is a sort and prime commodity in a crises prone areas but in Burutu federal constituency, we are bereave and yet to comprehend to what informed his decision to have introduced such powerful competition with a questionable title having yet to experience or see such thing as a crises threatening our existence.

“The Julius Pondi Peace Cup is a subterfuge painting and a mockery of the peace loving people of the constituency. Instead of a “Peace Cup” , Rep Pondi would have theme it “Unity Cup” which may have bought the minds of many on how the 2015 election went”.

‘‘We need social amenities like road, light, water, health centres, modern market just to mention and a host of people oriented projects coupling legislation. Give us projects captured in Federal Government budget and that of its intervention agencies as could be seen in the State. We are tired of media applauds, turn off the media sleeve and get down to business. The business at the green chamber is not a game of Gucci and Versace, but needs real intellectual men with intellectual capacity to attract development to his constituency’’ the group said.