Isoko youths under the umbrella of Isoko Development Union (IDU-Youth Wing), Delta state have banned governor Ifeanyi Okowa from attending any Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) political function in the area following what they described as ‘withholding of our N80 million’ largesse by the Managing Director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC), Askia Ogieh.
The IDU-youth wing, had in few months embarked on a peaceful protest and barricaded the Isoko-Ughelli-Asaba expressway leading to a heavy gridlock which affected the ever busy East-West road over the refusal of DESOPADEC MD, Ogieh to release to them the sum of N50 million due them in May before it came to N80 million in this August.
Speaking with HardReporters over the issue and threats to shutdown all oil facilities in the area, the President of the IDU-Youth Wing, Hyacinth Ewariezi Ede, disclosed that “As a matter of fact the entire youths of Isoko ethnic nationality have banned governor Ifeanyi Okowa from stepping his foot into Isoko land for any political function. Okowa can not enter Isoko, he dares not. Until Okowa directs Askia Ogieh to release to us our N80 million, he can’t come into Isoko land for anything henceforth.
“The same vein, we have banned any function by PDP in Isoko nation until the governor addresses all the issues raised in a communiqué we issued few days ago shortly after an enlarged meeting by the Isoko youths. We stated it clearly that the continued silence by governor Okowa of not granting the leadership of Isoko Development Union audience and appointment has empowered Askia Ogieh, the Managing Director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission to aid and abet discord and disunity in Isoko nation.”
Meanwhile, in a communiqué issued at the end of an enlarged meeting of the IDU-Youth Wing, on Monday, signed by the President of the IDU-Youth Wing, Hyacinth Ewariezi Ede and its Secretary General, Unuafe Sunday Edewor, addressed to governor Ifeanyi Okowa and obtained by HardReporters, the youths warned that failure to address all issues raised with immediate effect, they would commence a total lockdown of oil facilities in Isoko nation and no political rally or campaign will be allowed starting from the forthcoming bye election of Isoko South constituency 1.
According to the youths “The deliberate disregard to the leadership of Isoko Development Union (IDU), the apex socio-cultural body of Isoko nation by the governor of Delta State and Managing Director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission is an unwholesome development which will no longer be tolerated forthwith. The continuous diversion of Isoko youth social security fund by the approval of Delta state governor to fund Askia’s sole business affair is totally condemned by Isoko nation.
“It is on this background we make the under-listed prayers. The governor of Delta state Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa should break silence and dormancy regarding these issues raised to ensure Isoko nation has peace and live in unity in line with his peace agenda. The governor of Delta state and Managing Director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission should give due regard and respect to Isoko Development Union without further delay.
“We urge the governor of Delta state to use his good offices to mandate Chief Askia Ogieh the Managing Director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission to pay Isoko youths their social security funds from January to date which amount to eighty million naira (N80,000,000). We wish to state categorically that failure to address these issues as earlier raised with immediate effect.
“The youths of Isoko ethnic nationality would commence a total lockdown of oil facilities in Isoko nation and no political rally or campaign will be allowed to hold in Isoko nation starting from the forthcoming bye election of Isoko South constituency 1.” the youths maintained.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that as at the time of filing in this report, the MD of DESOPADEC, Askia Ogieh and governor Ifeanyi Okowa are worried and planning how to resolve the issue while emissaries sent by the governor to the leadership of the youths were not given listening ears as the youths insisted that the governor will not step his foot into the land while all political activities of PDP remain banned pending the release of the DESOPADEC’s N80 million largesse accrued them.
