By Onome Oghenetega
A socio-political pressure group, Isoko Renaissance Group (IRG) has called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to live up to his word by ensuring that the people of Iyede are given the opportunity to produce the chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Isoko North Local Government Area in the next council elections.
The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) had recently fixed March 6, 2021 for the LGA elections in the state.
The group particularly called on Governor Okowa to end the reign of oppression and injustice against the people of Iyede in Isoko North by ensuring that power shift to the area in the forthcoming elections.
IRG, in a letter signed its Publicity Secretary, Aghogho Oletu, accused the member representing Isoko Federal Constituency, Hon. Leo Ogor, and the member representing Isoko North at the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon.Tim Kome Owhefere, of marginalising the Iyede bloc of the council for elective positions.
Read Full Letter Below:
His Excellency,
Sen.(Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa
Executive Governor, Delta state.
Sir,
A CALL FOR EQUITY, FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE IN ISOKO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.
Recall that during the town hall meeting with youths of Delta state being an aftermath of the #ENDSARS protest at the government annex Warri, it was mentioned by a speaker that he could not, in good conscience, refer to you as the “road master” given the litany of bad roads and/or poorly executed roads spread across the state.
He also mentioned that the protest was a vestige of broken and uninspiring leadership from the Federal through the State to the Local government level.
You addressed the issues and reeled your plans for improving the road network and addressing the flooding situation in Warri and across the state. You also assured that under your watch, you’d ensure the process of selecting your party flag bearers in the forthcoming local council polls would be such that prioritized equity, competence, fairness and justice.
I must admit, however, that your penchant for recruiting and grooming young people, typified by the number of sensitive positions you’ve trusted with youths across the state cannot be denied. On this subject, you are deserving of a big kudos.
However, the time to walk the talk of allowing young competent people into the helm of affairs of Local Council is now, especially in Isoko north.
First, as you are very much aware, there is an unwritten grouping of the clans in Isoko north into two lots, such that at any point in time, the political offices of Council Chairman and House of Assembly seats are zoned to either side of the divide respectively.
For sinister reasons, Hon.Tim Kome Owhefere who is on his fourth straight term and already mulling a fifth, in cahoots with some leaders, chiefly, Rt. Hon. Leo Okuwe Ogor, has consistently waved off the chairmanship position to the other end so he could perpetuate himself in power all these years, no thanks to the support he has hitherto enjoyed from state house.
The scheme being that, so long as the Chairmanship is out of his lot, he can snatch the House of Assembly seat.
Thus, every elective position of note in Isoko north has oscillated between Ozoro and Oweh clans in the past eighteen years till date, also the Local government PDP Party chairmanship has being in Oweh clan since 1999 till date. This is the path they intend to continue with beyond 2023 judging by their plans to shove their preferred candidate on us.
To them, the demands of the #ENDSARS protest which included a level playing ground for youths in politics was just a mere youthful shenanigan which is undeserving of any consideration. The recycling and perpetuating of themselves in power, while the youths queue behind them should continue as both the old and new normal.
Sadly, this will not go unquestioned this time. Isoko north does not belong to Rt. Hon. Leo Okuwe Ogor and Hon. Tim Kome Owhefere alone. It belongs to us all. Whatever decision they take in this regard will amount to nullity
Your Excellency, it is rumored that you have already endorsed their unholy move to shortchange Emevor, and Iyede, who make up the lot from which he hails from. We therefore humbly implore your Excellency to reconsider and outrightly discard this stance as it can only produce chaos which will not augur well for our party.
Currently, Iyede has shown strong interest in the chairmanship position, an interest of Hon. Tim Kome Owhefere whose stay in the House of Assembly has attained political menopause and lacks strength, vigor and ability to reproduce anything meaningful beyond his fourth term.
We find absolutely no reason, whatsoever and howsoever, why Iyede should be denied the chairmanship ticket of the party when they have and delivered the third highest votes in the last gubernatorial poll which brought about your reelection. Also, they made the highest financial contributions in support of the party in the 2019 general elections and have continued to support your government and the party.
On a final note, I am unsure what deception has been brought to your table, but be it known to you, sir that it is incumbent on you to stop this macabre dance of Hon. Owhefere and his cahoots from proceeding any further. It has no future, but a predetermined fatal end.
While keeping faith with your disposition towards fairness, justice and equity, accept the assurances of my highest regards.
Aghogho Oletu
Publicity Secretary
Isoko Renaissance Group
