The Gains and Challenges of IDU
Being an adderss by Hon.(Chief) Idu
Amadhe, on the occasion
of the mid-year annual conference of Isoko
Development Union ,
at the national secretariat, Oleh roundabout,
Oleh on Saturday 26th august, 2017
I on behalf of the National Executive Council humbly welcome
Patrons, Royal fathers, the political class, business mugus/investors and
clans/branches delegates to his conference. We pray to God to grant those who
are still behind safe arrival to the conference venue.
As you are aware, this is a mid-year conference which
requires that the Exco should provide report or score card for the past eight
(8) months to be good people of Isoko Nation.
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| High Chief Idu and other excos during the conference |
1.CRISIS IN ISOKO LAND
Isoko communities must advance, and to achieve this, we must
do away with primordial sentiments, address challenges scientifically in line
with pratices in advanced societies and perhaps our sister ethic nationalities.
I would like to admonish our community PGs and leaders to eschew violence,
avoid those steps that are capable of causing chaos in our communities. No development
can take place in any environment that is crisis prone. Dialogue and
consultation are better instruments to be difficult situations.
THE UNION HAS BEEN SADDLED WITH THE
FOLLOWING:
A. Iyede Traditional Crisis: This has been
settled out of Ozoro high court and the Ovie is relating well with his council
of chiefs.
B. Igide/Okpolo Enwhe Land Dispute/Crisis:
The Isoko south local government council and IDU have done their best in this
matter but unfortunately, total peace has not returned. No permanent boundary
has been fixed and there is road block in between the communities. Government
of Isoko south IDU had intervened in the crisis and recommendations made. Both
communities agreed that they will dialogue as brothers, which they did in warri
for months until 20th August, 2017 when the renewed hostilities
occurred. People have been killed and properties have been destroyed. This is
sad and negative publicity to Isoko Nation and I want to say without apology to
anyone that what has happened is total leadership failure on both communities
and Isoko must take a decision on the crisis today.
C. Ozoro/Oleh Land Dispute: The peace
committee has worked for almost 11/2 years, visited the disputed land and
interrogated all parties. Their peace report will be submitted to both clans,
Isoko leaders and government officials.
D. Onogbokor Community Crisis: I have the
pleasure to report to the conference that the 30 years internal crisis of
Onogbokor clan, an Isoko Community in Ndokwa East has been resolved. The
settlement report is enclosed in your file.
E. Olomoro Community Internal Leadership
crisis has been resolved courtesy of Isoko South Local Government Council,
Traditional Rulers and IDU.
F. Uzere Community internal Leadership crisis
has been settled.
G. Enyagbedi/Ozoro Land Dispute: The peace
talk is in progress.
H. The Oyede Clan Traditional matter is
still under mediation.
J. Also
resolved is the leadership problem in Ilorin
branch, attached is a copy of the settlement.
K. Ibrede Community Crisis: The Union will move into it after the conference. Consequent
on the various crises in Isoko
Land
2. ACCREDITATION OF
LAW/ENGINEERING FACULTIES, DELSU, OLEH CAMPUS:
Accreditation of programmes is very important in any
university. The IDU has worked relentlessly and we are happy to inform you that
faculty of law has been fully accredited.
Three departments of faculty of engineering: civil,
Elect/Elect and mechanical have been accredited. The union borrowed N5 million towards the accreditation in
june but postponed to November, 2016. We are grateful to his lord Bishop J.Aruakpor
of oleh diocese and Mr.Ogaga Ifowodo who donated N500,000 for laboratory table.
3. FOUNDATION LAYING CERRMONY OF THE NATIONAL OPEN
UNIVERSITY
This centre which strated with about 120 students now has a
population of over 1200 students. We wish to commend the Emevor community for
raising about N25 million for the
permanent site. The IDU also donated 10009’’ blocks towards the rise up to the
challenges of moving it an enviable height.
4. OZORO POLYTECHNIC:
In collaboration with Rt. Hon.Leo Ogor and Ozoro community,
we are working towards the conversion of the polytechnic to a federal poly.
5. OFAGBE TECHNICAL
COLLEGE
This college has been fully developed by the state
government, New classrooms, Staff quarters, Laboratories, Hostel blocks with
equipment for vocational studies have been provided but our problem is that the
underutilized. The solution is that all PGs, politicians and
investors/politicians should send youths for training/empowerment in the
technical school to reduce the ‘ose’ syndrome.
6. CONSTRUCTION of ISOKO UNITY HOUSE:
This project has
reached an advance stage (roofing level). We wish to appreciate his excellency,
governor of delta state and mamagement of DESOPADEC for listening to IDU
leadership. The commission is also making arrangement to furnish the present
secretariat.
7. ISOKO LANGUGE DEVELOPMENT:
Books on the languge and curriculum for teaching our
children are being printed by Sir Othihiwa Ayodele. Our prayer is that the God
of isoko should bless him. We also appreciate the isoko language committee and
ELONA FOUNDATION for their wonderful work they are doing. We equally commend
Isoko Positive Agenda for their commitment towards the propagation of the
language through the media.
8. ELECTRICATION OF THE PREMISE:
Hon.Leo Ogor has promised to install a 500kva transformer
for us and has sent a contractor to take measurement/costing. DESOPADEC
management led by Bashorun Askia Ogieh is equally making effort to electrify
part of the complex.
10. ISOKO ELETRICITY:
His Excellency, the
Governor of Delta State, during his town hall meeting in isoko on 10th
may,2017, directed the Attorney General to fast-track the process of signing
the MOU with Thames energy and BEDC. There
have been some bottlenecks along the ways, which made IDU/Hon.Karo Ilolo and
two council chairmen to arrange for a stakeholders meeting in July. Thames energy, BEDC and IDU representatives have gone
round isoko land to ascertain the quantity of energy that will be consumed. We
have reached an advance state hopefully there will be constant light in isoko
one day.
11. INVESTMENT IN ISOKO
LAND
The two isoko local government council chairmen in
collaboration with IDU/Clans organized an isoko economic summit three months
ago to attract investors and monitor all investments in isoko nation. We thank
the chairmen for their co-operation and foresight.
Furthermore, it is a thing of joy to inform this august
gathering thet Kcompass commodities Ltd. Is currently working with the support
of the Minisry of Agriculture/Ministry of Urban renwal to ensure that the
untapped potential of Aviara communal farm is realized in order that jobs can
be created, local rice farmers encouraged in isoko land delta state can be
recongnized as an agro-processing and exporting power house in nigera with rice
mill situated in our community.
I salute the efforts of Hon.Karo Ilolo in attracting
invenstors to isoko land and call on others to emulate him.
12. AMENDMENT OF POTHOLES ON
ARADHE-ELLU-OZORO-OLEH-AKIEWHE-OWHE-EMEVOR-IYEDE-UGHELLI ROAD
We note with satisfaction the recent directive by His
Excellency Governor of Delte
State
13. OIL COMPANIES OPERATING IN ISOKO
LAND
a. No
employment of isoko into Management position.
b. No
contracting using local content conditions
c. Promotion
of crisis in different communities, using our own people.
We appeal to Oil producing Communiuty leaders to be wiser,
transparent and more proactive in dealing with the Oil Companies to enable
isoko benefit more.
The isoko nation is putting pressure on government and
heritage energy operational services Ltd. To create separate communities development
borad (CDB) for us, as organizing the III communities has been very problematic
and not advantageous to isoko people. It is also important to note that isoko
produce over 60% of the crude oil in OML 30 block.
14. PANDEF Report:
This group has been recognized by the federal government in
handling niger delta issues. Senator chief (Mrs.) Stella Omu, prince Maikpobi
and chief felix Ogbaudu AIG (Rtd) will report to the conference the lastest
development from Abuja .
15. ABANDONMENT OF NDDC PROJECT IN ISOKO LAND
The isoko leadership is very disturbed over the abandonment
of many NDDC projects, eg, Ellu Multi-purpose Hall/Roads, Uzere-Patani Road , Emevor-Orogun Road , DELSU Workshop
Building
We solicit for the urgent intervention of our isoko sons in
government (state and federal) by calling on NDDC to complete the above
projects.
On behalf of isoko, I want to express our immense gratitude
to Dr.ogaga Ofowodo for work done on Olomoro –Igbide Road , Olomoro town, Unity bank to Mechanic Village
In addition, we request all communities to set up their own
project monitoring committees to make the job eaier for IDU.
16. STATE GOVERNMENT PROJECTS:
We wish to appreciate our sons and daughters in government
for the follwing; Oleh-Ozoro road, Amawa layout, Irri/Idheze road, Uzere
grammar school renovation, Ikpide-Irri township roads,
Aviara-Arayr-Okpare-Okpawha road and Owhe-Ologbo-Abbi road.
17. ISOKO
YOUTH/ACTIVITIES (OVARAWHA):
They have been in existence from time immemorial. They were
involved in activities like sanitation in communities, peace-keeping and
supporting elders. Today, the youth movement was supposed to be for agitation
for good development and freedom from marginalization of isoko land. But along
the line, they derailed. This lost of Focus, led to the bloodshed, arrest,
counter arrest, court cases -greed/personal interest, internal crisis, external
manipulation of the youths by government officials and struggle for supremacy
amongst them. The behaviour of the different factions of the youth has brought
tension, mistrust, insecurity of life and property, which is sad, most
unfortunate and totally unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue.
The insubordination of the youths to the parents body (IDU)
yielded no positive result/did more harm than good thereby not serving any
useful purpose, the youths should henceforth operate as an independent body,
under the supervision of a team of past isoko youth PGs/leaders to be known as
ISOKO YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.
A team of selected lawyers will prepare a new constitution
for them. They will consult with the parent body (I.D.U.) on only major policy
statements/issues affecting isoko ethnic nation. Our dream is no usher in a
vibrant and united youth body for isoko nation.
18. I.D.U. WOMEN
WING:
Sentiments among the
women has brought bitterness, disunity, blackmail, campaign of calumny and
politicized the women wing. Activities of the wing are carried out without the
knowledge and involvement of the mother union.
In addition, almost eight (8) principal officers of the Exco
have left. We canot allow animosity amongst them and indiscipline to wreck the
group. Consequently, the mother union will soon reconstitute the women wing
because they were supposed to have vacated the office since on the 5th
of December,2016 when their tenure expired.
19. ISOKO IN NDOKWA EAST:
Our people in
Ewho-Okorafor, lagos Iyede, Iyede-Ame, Onogbokor, Umuolu, Awa-Ibrede, etc
require a road urgently. Isoko sons in government shouls put pressure on
senator Peter Nwaboshi who is the chairman of niger delta committee in order to
actualize this for us. (A video chilp showing what our peoples suffer is
available) for our isoko media groups to work on.
20. FUNDING OF I.D.U:
This is a critical area that will be discussed and concluded
today if IDU must survive. The fifty thousand Naira (N50,000) per clan/branch per year is inadequate for the day-to-day
running of the union. For example, we are indebted to our landlord (Emeni
Family) to the tune of N3,025,000. Oleh
Diocese N4 million and Obuke N1 million and the financial pressure on
the Exco is too much.
Delegates should come up with a financial formula for the
union’s administration, like other ethnic nationalities. The isoko think tank
leadership should take this assignment very seriously.
21. LATE DR.FANCIS ONIEKORO:
He was the former
secretary General of the union, an erudite legal scholar, accomplished
administrator and devoted community worker. He held the office creditably until
his painful demide and because he had earlier lost the wife that same year, an
expanded emergency meeting was held on the 3rd of feb., 2017,
deliberated on the need for his children to go to school and “The DR.FRANCIS
ONIEKORO CHILDREN ENDOEMENT FUND” was floated.
In addition, as a mark of respect for him and his community,
it was decided that another personality be nominated from Ofagbe town to
replace him pending ratification. The Ofagbe Community has sent Dr.Chris Akpotu
as a replacement.
22. ISOKO POLITICIANS/POLICIAL OFFICE HOLDERS:
We appeal to them to
be more united and proactive to fight for the general development of isoko
nation. Whatever the pary/connection you have, use it for the betterment of
your people and monitor all your initiated projects to completion.
23. HERDSMEN MENACE IN ISOKO LAND
The Fulani herdmen who are from the Northern parts of the
country are nomadic in nature.
Thtese groups of people have been very aggressive and have
attacked virtually all isoko communities.
They have attacked Ofagbe, Umeh, Ellu, Arafhe, Enhwe and
others. The recent blockage of the Ugelli-Asaba express road by Iyede people
was as a result of same attack by the herdsmen.
The isoko nation is therefore calling on the state
government to come to the aid of the isoko people to avoid further harassment
by the herdsmen.
The Isoko community leaders should be vigilant and watchful
and report any movement of the herdsmen within their community to the
appropriate quarters.
CONCLUSION:
I wish to commend my executive members/patrons of IDU for
standing by me at all times in spite of the numerous challenges. “The ultimate
measure of a man is not when he finds himself in a moment of comfort and
convenience but when he stands at a time of challenges and controversy”.
The isoko people wish to appreciate our son Bar.Ejumejowo
who has used his NGO to secure hospital equipment for donation to isoko health
centres. We also appreciate the follwing: Sir Ayodele Othihiwa who donated
I.D.U. main gate, chief Dan.Akpoili for donating a generator, Damotech Omoyibo
who donated twenty (20) ceiling fans and Hon.(chief) Raph Okaruefe who donated
a wireless P.A.System.
My thanks also go to Hon. Eta Enahoro and Mr.Daniel Omoyibo
who have been very supportive to this administration. May God bless them a
hundred fold. The executive is also grateful to PGs and branches for wonderful
encouragement, phone calls, etc.
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