By Onome Oghenetega
High Chief Iduh Amadhe, the President-General of Isoko Development Union (IDU), has been called upon to resign his position as the leader of the apex socio-cultural umbrella of the Isoko Nation over his alleged involvement in politics.
The IDU President was accused of using his position as the leader of the Isoko people to allegedly solicit and lobby for contract and appointment from the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
The demand for his resignation was contained in a letter by a pan Isoko interest group, Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG), in a letter address to the embattled IDU President.
A copy of the letter obtained by WARRI TODAY on Friday also accused the PG of using his position as the leader of the Isoko Nation to play partisan politics at the detriment of the Isoko people who gave him the mandate to lead them.
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The letter drumming for the removal of the Chief Iduh was signed on behalf of the group by Oroh Kingsley Ph.D.
The letter dated 21 September 2019 was received by the Public Relations Officer of the revered Isoko group on September 25, 2019.
Independent investigation by WARRI TODAY revealed IMG also known as Akioja Isoko wants the head of the IDU PG over the appointment of his son and some recent contracts awarded to him by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Chief Iduh has been under attack over some abandoned projects in Isoko Nation including the popular Aviara Fish Farm.
The group condemned the ‘open support’ for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the former Isoko South Council Chairman, saying that such affinity had cost the Isoko people in the Nigerian political space.
“We want to formally congratulate your family on the recent appointment of your son, Mr Garvin Iduh as a Special Assistant on Youth Development to the Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. They say that good fruits do not fall far from their parent tree.
“We are however worried just like most Isoko sons and daughters over the appointment of your son into the state Government by the Governor and the award of contracts to your company by the Delta State Government.
“We are convinced that your political persuasion and affinity to the PDP recently is worrisome which many speculates around that your position as the IDU President has be comprised to be a card carrying member of the PDP
“We are also concern that the personal benefits that have be accrued to you as a result of your affinity and inclination highlights a conflict of interest, which undermines your ability of honesty and fearlessly to speak truth to power”, it said.
While listing some of the grievances against the IDU President, the group further challenged the Chief Iduh to come with facts if he was not the contractor that was awarded the Aviara Fish Farman and the construction of the Ozoro Market which have been abandoned.
According to it, “We have observed with great displeasure that Projects like the construction of Ozoro Market and the Aviara Fish Farm which are among the projects awarded to your company seems to be among the abandoned contracts in Isoko land and this we believe will affect the performance of your duty to the Isoko Development Union as the apex body of the Isoko People and your ability to speak the truth to authority.
“It is further our worry that your seemingly partisan body language is totally tilted towards a specific political party and can have negative impact on sons and daughters of Isoko origin that are in other divides as well as the entire interest of Isoko nation.
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“We therefore appeal to you to explain to the people of Isoko that your position as the President-General of the Isoko Development Union is not being deliberately compromised by your business or the political interest of your family.
“It is also our appeal that in the event of the likelihood of your personal interest conflict with the tenets of your office that you honorably resign your position as the President-General of the Isoko Development Union.”
Meanwhile, Chief Iduh when contacted debunked the allegation against him saying that IDU under his leadership has made significant progress to hold government and others accountable to the Isoko people.
According to him, the IDU PG posited that the few against him were doing so because of his son who was recently appointed by Governor Okowa as Special Assistant on Youth Development.
The PG, who demanded to see the copy of the letter, further told WARRI TODAY that the blackmails against him were distraction, adding that he remained committed to the development of Isoko Nation.
