BY EMMANUEL EKEBE
The Grand Patron of Isoko Development Union (IDU), High Chief Iduh Amadhe has called on the people of Isoko Nation of Delta State to have what he called ‘Implicit’ trust in the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as he cannot turn his back on the various interests of the Isoko nationality being an integral part of the State.
Chief Iduh Amadhe made the call in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area of the State while speaking with journalists in reaction to recent misgivings over the exclusion of Isoko nation in the N230 billion approval of projects by the State Executive meeting (EXCO).
According to the former Chairman of Isoko South “There is no doubt that the Sheriff Oborewori’s administration mean well for the Isoko people because there is no way the MORE Agenda can be driven to its logical conclusion without the Isoko nation getting its fair share.
“The Isoko people must note that this is not a yearly budgetary approval but State Executive Council meeting (EXCO) and there are still more of such EXCOs to be held by the Oborevwori’s government. And if Isoko is not accommodated by this EXCO, Isoko can be accommodated in the next.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all aggrieved persons including those that have gone to court to sheath their swords and allow both the cultural leadership and the political class to handle all issues at stake through dialogue and lobbying. I must appeal to all Isoko sons and sundry never to put the horse before the cart. Where we are going to is better than where we are coming from”.
He also advised that the Isoko Nation should remain united, focused and to speak with one voice.
While acknowledging that the law allowed the individual and groups to air their views, the immediate past President-General of IDU, recalled that during the tenure of Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, a similar scenario had played out in a particular budgetary allocation with an alleged 1% allocation to Isoko nation but after due consultation, interfacing and clarification, all issues were straightened out accordingly and resolved amicably.
Iduh Amadhe, however, noted that there were very visible signs that Governor Oborevwori’s administration had not turned his back on the people of Isoko nation in the past two years, as there was still large room to do more, adding that the Governor as an in-law to Isoko nation will never work to short change the place of origin of the First Lady, his wife and our daughter.
The IDU Grand Patron assured the people that he was confident that in another round of release of projects, the Isoko nation will certainly be duly accommodated because as a leading oil and gas producing ethnic nationality, Isoko cannot be undermined.
On the issue of the predicted looming flood, Chief Iduh enjoined the people to be proactive, carry out early harvest of crops and be preparing to relocate to higher grounds early enough, and called on the government to activate the relevant agencies to be on ground soonest to mitigate the impact of the perennial flooding as much as possible.
