By Onome Oghenetega
Ahead of Saturday’s Governorship and State Houses of Assembly election, the Isoko ethnic nationality in Delta State has called on Isoko people to cast their votes for the re-election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking through the apex socio-cultural umbrella of the Isoko Nation, Isoko Development Union (IDU), the people of Isoko Nation said they are one hundred plus one percent in support of Okowa’s re-election.
IDU said their earlier endorsement of the PDP governorship candidate and governor of the state remains intact and would deliver the two local government areas of Isoko North and South for him.
Speaking at a meeting attended PDP and APC leaders held at the IDU Secretariat in Oleh on Sunday, President-General of IDU, Chief Iduh Amadhe, said Governor Okowa has done well for the Isoko people and as such deserves to be re-elected for a second term.
According to Chief Amadhe, “We have put all previous governors on a scale and it is important to state that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has performed very well in developing the Isoko nation. We cannot forget in a hurry how he assisted us in resolving the Ibrede crisis and his commitments to the development of the Isoko communities in Ndokwa East LGA.
“Under the Okowa led administration, we got full accreditation for the engineering and law faculties, accreditation of courses at Ozoro Polytechnic as well as construction of several roads in Isoko nation. If you go to Ofagbe Technical College you will see the huge investments the Governor has put in there.”
“Beyond his performance, the Isoko nation is in support of the rotational arrangement of the governorship position and going by that arrangement, Governor Okowa again fits in properly as regards the zoning arrangement.”
Also speaking Isoko North Council Chairman Hon Emmanuel Egbabor warned against the use of security agencies to initimidate and harass the Isoko people, stressing that the government will not take it kindly with anyone found using security agencies to witch hunt anyone before, during and after the election.
At the end of the meeting, the Isoko nation resolved to vote massively for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to enable him complete some of the ongoing projects he is carrying out for the Isoko people in particular and Deltans in general.
The meeting had in attendance the pioneer speaker, Delta State House Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Okoro; Majority Leader Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Tim Owhefere; Chairman of Isoko South Local government Council Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo and his Isoko North counterpart Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor.
Others are; Arch. Joseph Ogeh, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, Engr. Daniel Omoyibo, Prof. Saliba Mukoro, Dr Nelson Ejakpovi, notable APC leaders, former NDDC Commissioner Dr Ogaga Ifowodo, Chief John Araka, Prince Okareme Maikpobi, Isoko North and South APC Chairmen, traditional rulers, President-Generals of communities, political party leaders, youths, women among others.
