Fox Odoi says burial drama will not stop him returning to parliament
Apr 29, 2014
West Budama North MP Fox Odoi has assured his constituents not to worry about his safety following an incidence when he was booed and denied to address mourners during the burial of his predecessor William Oketcho on Friday.
By Faustine Odeke
West Budama North MP Fox Odoi has assured his constituents not to worry about his safety following an incidence where he was booed and denied opportunity to address mourners at the burial of his predecessor William Oketcho on Friday.
Odoi survived the wrath of the angry mourners led by Asoka Owere Owori who threatened to beat him if he dared to address them. This after Owere grabbed the microphone from the master of ceremony Prof Tanga Odoi.
" I am a son of Nyapolo clan of Joluli who have a strong belief that if you are to travel a long distance, you walk slowly but while carrying a stick on your right hand. Come 2016, those talking a lot will find me in parliament. Please stop praying for me,’’ Odoi said.
Odoi made the remarks on Saturday at a fundraising drive for the construction of Pasindi Church of Uganda in Mulanda Sub County organized by Budama South MP Jacob Oboth Oboth. The function raised sh1m.
The chairperson of Tororo parliamentary caucus, Geoffrey Ekanya, earlier said he was going to petition the President’s office to either transfer or drop Tororo RDC Adhola Kennedy Otiti for allegedly "practicing politics of divide and rule."
Ekanya accused Otiti of inciting the residents against Tororo members of parliament that led to Odoi being embarrassed during Oketcho’s burial. Otiti was not at the fundraising.
“I want to make it clear that the ugly scene of shame and embarrassment that we witnessed during the burial of our colleague Oketcho was incited by the Otiti. We as the area MPs will not look on and watch this continue under our nose,” Ekanya charged.
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At the burial of Oketcho, former MP Victor Kobel (left) and MP Ekanya (kneeling) pleaded in vain for the family to let Fox Odoi speak. PHOTO BY FAUSTINE ODEKE
However, Odoi said there was no need for Ekanya to petition the office of the president over Otiti because many do not know the Fox Odoi they are talking about.
“I’m praying that God helps Otiti and others because they do not know the Fox Odoi they are playing with. I promise that they will soon regret their actions” said Odoi.
Sanjay Tana, the Tororo Municipality MP said that all those who incited violence and acted in such embarrassing manner during Oketcho’s burial were fools who were ignorant of their actions.
Tana called for unity amongst the MPs in the district so that they could continue like before to achieve their targets.
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Riot police guard the casket last Friday. PHOTO BY FAUSTINE ODEKE
When contacted for comment, Otiti denied inciting the mourners against the Odoi but asked the MP’s to stick to their roles and responsibility instead of basing on false finding against others.
He said the statement he made at the burial was basically to appreciate the late Oketcho for what he had done adding that like any other person he would not associate with failures.
‘’My duty is basically to monitor the implementation of government programs and ensure that all stakeholders play their part. My work is complementary and not politicize,’’ Otiti said.
Otiti told the mourners that Oketcho had set a standard for him to be honored because of the good track record and performance. He said poor performers usually become very cruel when they are asked for accountability.
At the fund raising, Emmanuel Othieno Akika, the former water state minister demanded in vain that Ekanya apologizes and withdraws his statement that Otiti be dropped as RDC.
Residents talked to later said they are worried about the ongoing confrontation by the leaders in the district which they said is likely to have a negative impact on service delivery.
History of the conflicts in WEST BUDAMA NORTH