Tonye Timi joins push for Patani to produce next rep for Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency.~Truth Reporters

By Andy Emephia

One time member representing Patani State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly , and current Executive Director of Corporate Services at the South South Development Commission ( SSDC), Hon Tonye Timi ( PhD ), has thrown his hat behind the rotation of the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency seat currently being occupied for the 7th term , by Hon Nicholas Mutu.

Citing democratic rotation , inclusiveness and equity , among valid reasons behind his call for a change of representation for Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency , the former lawmaker noted that , while other Federal Constituencies in Delta , have since 1999 when the democratic experience birthed, have enjoyed representation from different persons, thus driving inclusiveness and equity among component parts of their constituencies, only Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency has been represented by one person till date.

This scenario, Hon ( Dr ) Tonye Timi posited , is not only unacceptable and reprehensible in a democratic setting , but inimical to the tenets of democratic culture which allows for participatory inclusion of all segments of the federal Constituency , thus giving all and sundry , a sense of belonging.

The South South Development Commission ED Corporate Services , while lamenting the absence of tangible projects across Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency , to the credit of the incumbent since the 27 years of occupying the office , expressed mixed feelings at the current situation , alluding it to the economic "law of diminishing returns" principle.

He decried the marginalisation of the people of Patani in this lop-sided federal representation since 1999, describing it as an invitation to disunity , mistrust , as well as political alienation , if the since 1999 oppression of the Patani people in the political equation of the Federal Constituency , is not redressed.

While calling for leadership renewal and rotation in Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency , Hon Tonye Timi tasked the political class in the area to take a cue from the principles of inclusion and align the constituency with progressive representation standards currently evident across all senatorial , federal and state constituencies , across Delta State.

The SSDC Executive Director of Corporate Services therefore cautioned those encouraging the glaring lopsidedness since the return of democracy in 1999, to retrace their steps in the interest of inclusiveness and unity of the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, as the era of neglect of one federating unit over the other in the scheme of things , is over, starting with the 2027 general elections in the federal Constituency.