As Isoko nation continued to demand for apologies from the Delta state government over what they described as insult by the state commissioner for economic planning, Kingsley Emu while reacting to series of agitations and vote of no confidence passed on governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Isoko representatives in government on the 1% allocation to Isoko in the state 2018 budget, more Isoko prominent sons have added their voices to demand of apologies.
On behalf of the Delta state government,
the commissioner for Economic Planning, Kingsley Emu, had in a statement described the Isoko as people suffering from amnesia “loss of memory” as well as uninformed and uneducated, saying “DESOPADEC has a budgetary provision of N28bn as capital expenditure for which the Isoko nation is a legitimate beneficiary.”
Meanwhile, the state government’s response which was termed irresponsible and unpleasant to the people of the area, has continued to generate series of reactions and ripples.
Speaking on Sunday during the launching and inauguration of the Isoko political Exodus, (IPE), at the Isoko Central School, (ICS), Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South local government area of Delta state, former Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Ovuozorie Macaulay, expressed displeasure over derogatory comments made by the state government trough the commissioner for economic planning.
While saying Isoko nation demand an unreserved apologies from the state government, the former SSG who was received by the mammoth crowd said the 1% allocated to Isoko nation in the budget must be revisited even as he made it clear that for the commissioner to have insulted Isoko nation by saying “we are suffering from amnesia and uneducated people, the commissioner must tender an unreserved apologies to the Isoko nation.”
The former SSG told the mammoth crowd shortly after been installed the grand patron of the Isoko Political Exodus that “If Isoko nation cannot rise up and demand for apologies from the state government, it means we do not worth our salt. There is a conspiracy to bring Isoko nation down.”
Also speaking, chairman of the occasion, former chairman of Isoko South local government area and current commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Delta State, Mathias Eto, said the people of Isoko have been insulted by the Delta state government as such Isoko nation demand an apology.
“Isoko nation have been insulted, you cannot use offensive language on the people for whatever reasons, you cannot address people like you are addressing your children at home and we the Isoko nation have joined other Isoko sons and daughters in demanding for an unreserved apologies from Kingsley Emu. As a government you must learn how to respect the people.”
HardReporters reliably gathered that following the series of agitations and condemnations that have trailed the 1% allocation to Isoko nation in the 2018 budget, a meeting between the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and the leadership of the Isoko Development Union, (IDU), led by Iduh Amadhe is said to be currently going on about now at the government house, Asaba.
Details of the IPE launching and inauguration at ICS Oleh will be brought to you in our subsequent bulletin.
