By Brave Dickson
Activists under the aegis of the Voice Of The Southern People Of Nigeria (VOTSPON) have vowed to expose political office holders from the southern part of the country who embezzled taxpayers’ money.
The group on Saturday at a world press conference held in Port Harcourt said it is compiling files of southern political office holders’ activities especially elected governors and would expose their corrupt practices once they leave office.
The Leader of VOTSPON, Comrade Ikem Anthony said: “It is unfortunate that our southern political leaders do not adequately represent our interest. Therefore, we have decided to speak for our people. The most interesting thing is that we have resolved to adequately champion the course of good governance.
“We have a situation in this country where people with a credible pedigree will vie for elective positions and will not sail through because of godfatherism politics. So, we are going to create an avenue where the voice of the people will be what matters not the decision of the kingmakers.
“We have already gotten files of our southern governors’ activities who are still in office. If they like, they should keep collecting taxpayers’ money without implementing anything, we will occupy any property they illegally acquire both home and abroad.
“We have made up our minds to ensure good governance. We will mobilize the masses and educate them. We will use all avenues available to us to inform our people about what is going on.
“These governors get into power and at the end of the day, you see them driving expensive cars and chasing the electorates away. We will not continue to have this kind of situation where impunity continues to reign. The good people of this country don’t come into politics anymore because of the nature of Nigerian politics.
“So, we have created this movement as a legitimate avenue to constantly checkmate the activities of our elected officials from this southern part of Nigeria.”
Reiterating the group’s commitment to exposing corrupt politicians in office, the South-south Zonal Organizing Secretary of VOTSPON, Comrade Owolo Santos Owolo said:
“We are telling the world through this press conference that we have the files of our elected leaders in this country. They should use our resources judiciously, else they will be exposed after their tenures.
“We want to let the leaders know that our resolve to expose them after they leave office is to make them sit up. Our elected leaders are fond of representing themselves and their special interest once they get into office. They don’t care about the electorates that voted them into office.
“We have tried in several legitimate ways to make our elected officials do the right thing while in office but they have refused. So, we believe that this approach of exposing them that we have adopted will send some message of fear to those who will succeed them in office too.”
Our correspondent reports that the theme for the world press conference is: “The State of the Nation. Ensuring accountability in governance at all level.”
