*** Endorses Delta Former DBIR Chairman, Onowakpo
As political activities heralding the 2019 general elections continue to gather momentum, Delta coalition of chairmen of registered political parties, has taken a swipe at the minority leader of the house of representatives and member representing Isoko federal constituency, Mr. Leo Okuweh Ogor, saying his sixteen years in the green chamber is nothing to write home about apart from aggrandisement and poor representation.
According to the coalition, the minority leader, has not only disappointed the Isoko nation but has succeeded in amassing wealth to the detriment of the people he claimed to be representing in the national Assembly for sixteen years.
Rising from an enlarged meeting in Asaba, Friday, the chairmen of registered political parties to review the political aspiration of the former chairman of the Delta state Board of Internal Revenue and the current coordinator, Federal Inland Revenue Services in Delta, Edo and River State, Mr. Joel Onowakpo Thomas, who has indicated his desire to contest the Isoko Federal constituency seat into the green chamber comes 2019, it resolved as follows:
“The present person occupying the position now has failed the people. He has not done anything to improve the lives of the people of Isoko federal constituency as such he should quit and return home. The under-development of Isoko federal constituency and poor representation in government at the federal level since 1999 is lamentable.
“Despite the huge contribution of Isoko constituency to the wealth of the nation through oil and gas exploration, the area has nothing to show for it in terms of industries, the area lacked steady electricity, potable water and basic infrastructure. The area has not produced federal minister, ambassador or any other position of note since the return of democracy in 1999.
“We the party chairmen have resolved to support a former chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Joel Onowakpo-Thomas to realise his aspiration to represent Isoko Federal constituency in 2019 election, irrespective of the political party he intends to use for the election. Onowakpor has never been indicted for corruption in spite of so many sensitive positions he had held and still holding till today.
“Joel Onowakpor as chairman of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue raised the revenue of Delta State by over 250% before he left and we believe this experience will be usefully deployed to represent the Isoko people in the House of Representatives as from 2019. Onowakpor’s credentials as a chartered accountant, business consultant, serial entrepreneur with interests in hotels and hospitality, financial services, commodity trading and other endeavours will be utilized for the benefit of the Isoko people if elected in 2019.
“As former member of the Delta State economic council, he has acquired much experience that would impact positively on the lives of Isoko people if elected in 2019. Onowakpor believes in grassroots governance and development and was at a time chairman (mayor) of Isoko South Local Government Area (2007-2008) when he demonstrated leadership and executive capabilities.
“Onowakpor who is currently coordinating Federal Inland Revenue Service for Edo, Delta and Rivers states will leverage on his humongous experience and vast contacts to grow the Isoko nation to prominence when elected to represent the ethnic nationality in the House of Representatives. Our coalition notes that Onowakpor’s simplicity, accessibility and his philanthropic nature will definitely benefit the Isoko people whose men, women and youths he has vowed to empower when he us elected into the House of Representatives in 2019.”
The resolutions of the coalition which was read by the state chairman of Grassroots Party of Nigeria (GPN), Mr. Clarke Mejebi Anthony on behalf of the coalition however called on Isoko political stakeholders opinion leaders and the electorate to vote in this exceptional son of their in 2019 in order to terminate the dark days that Isoko people have endured so far.
The coalition further stated that it will support credible candidates with proven record of integrity and performance from the position of governor to members of House of Assembly in no distant time, saying that the case of Isoko federal constituency is peculiar because of the lamentable level of under development.
