Umuakpo says, Youth activism in isoko, N' delta
is commercialised
By Elo Edremoda
Youth activities in Isoko nation and across the Niger Delta
region has been described as commercialised.
Presidential aspirant of the Isoko National Youths' Assembly (INYA), Ovie Umuakpo, stated this while speaking with Isoko Mirror on July 7th2017 in
Warri.
Umuakpo, a political science lecturer at theCollege of Education
He stressed that his desire to lead the youths is born out of the need to render services and give national voice to youths of Isoko, pointing out that having excelled as president of the National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSU), he "will be able to pursue the course of the Isoko youth".
Addressing issues surrounding his qualification to run for the position, he disclosed that he met all the guidelines stipulated by the Isoko Development Union (IDU).
Noting that the youth body was "reduced to where anything goes" at a time, he said, "one of the key problems we have is that overtime, they have commercialised the youth body. They see it as a business, a place where you can just go in and make money, get connected and never want to leave.
"This is not just limited to Isokoland but across the Niger Delta region. At the early stage, the agitation was on how to control our resources and to develop the Niger Delta region. But at a point, they missed it, when it became commercialised.
"Commercialised in the sense that the key players started going for contracts from the federal government, getting pipeline surveillance contracts, and there is no way you can fight an establishment that gives you millions on monthly basis. So the attention shifted from developing the land to profiting from the agitation, by way of rewards and patronage from government," he stated.
He further called for selflessness among Isoko people, promising to give his best to serving the INYA once elected.
Presidential aspirant of the Isoko National Youths' Assembly (INYA), Ovie Umuakpo, stated this while speaking with Isoko Mirror on July 7th
Umuakpo, a political science lecturer at the
He stressed that his desire to lead the youths is born out of the need to render services and give national voice to youths of Isoko, pointing out that having excelled as president of the National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSU), he "will be able to pursue the course of the Isoko youth".
Addressing issues surrounding his qualification to run for the position, he disclosed that he met all the guidelines stipulated by the Isoko Development Union (IDU).
Noting that the youth body was "reduced to where anything goes" at a time, he said, "one of the key problems we have is that overtime, they have commercialised the youth body. They see it as a business, a place where you can just go in and make money, get connected and never want to leave.
"This is not just limited to Isokoland but across the Niger Delta region. At the early stage, the agitation was on how to control our resources and to develop the Niger Delta region. But at a point, they missed it, when it became commercialised.
"Commercialised in the sense that the key players started going for contracts from the federal government, getting pipeline surveillance contracts, and there is no way you can fight an establishment that gives you millions on monthly basis. So the attention shifted from developing the land to profiting from the agitation, by way of rewards and patronage from government," he stated.
He further called for selflessness among Isoko people, promising to give his best to serving the INYA once elected.
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