A non-partisan and defensive group of the Isoko ethnic nation, “Akioja Isoko” otherwise known as Isoko Monitoring Group, (IMG), has lamented what it called failure of the senator representing Delta South senatorial district, James Manager and the member representing Isoko federal constituency of Delta state in the house of representatives, Leo Ogor, to ensure the inclusion of the Isoko ethnic nation on the ongoing nonviolent phase of the federal government amnesty programme for the Niger Delta Region during their last dispensation.
The group said despite the undisputed and uninterrupted contributions of the Isoko ethnic nation in crude oil and natural gas production since 1958 and among other anomalies and marginalization of the Isoko people, “IMG notes with deep regret, the inability of Senator James Manager and Hon. Leo Ogor. IMG shall continually check and critically examine the level of patronage attracted to the Isoko people by all her representatives.”
Arising from its national emergency meeting weekend, the group in a communiqué titled “IMG Congratulates Manager, Ogor, Others On Their Successful Inauguration, Sues For Credible Representation Of The Isoko People”, signed by its President, Oke Michael Aziakpono, Ph.D, and made available to newsmen, admonished the two federal lawmakers and state lawmakers of Isoko extraction to see themselves as political servants and use their offices to attract meaningful development to the Isoko people.
“Distinguished senator and honourable members, we want to however, admonish you to see yourselves as political servants and use your offices to attract meaningful development to the Isoko people. The incessant under-performance of elected representatives, whose responsibility it is to ensure that the Isoko nation is duly and credibly represented across board, will no longer be treated with kid’s gloves.
“As a watch and defensive group of the Isoko people that strongly frowns at the gross marginalization bedeviling the Isoko nation, IMG believes that all the representatives will use their offices to credibly serve the Isoko people as constitution demands. The continuous neglect of our people in terms of empowerments and development at the federal and state levels, as well as under-performance of our elected representatives will not longer be tolerated.
“Isoko people must be partakers of every federal and state governments programmes. Therefore, we charge all concerned to do all within their powers in this regards and also to keep proper records of their stewardship for the Isoko people because we shall demand for them time after time. Elected Representatives ought not to be comfortable when those they represent are not adequately accommodated in the scheme of things.”, the communiqué stated.
IMG, however congratulated the senator representing Delta South senatorial district, James Manager and the House of Representatives member representing the Isoko North and Isoko South federal constituency of Delta state in the national Assembly, Leo Ogor on their successful inauguration as members of the 9th National Assembly.
The monitoring group in the same vein congratulated the members representing Isoko North, Isoko South I and II constituencies at the Delta State House of Assembly, Tim Owhefere, Kenneth Ogba and Ferguson Onwo respectively, on their successful inaugurations.