Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State, Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, has said that despite the oil and gas resources deposited in Isokoland of the state, no community in the locality can boast of power supply or factories.
Ogidi spoke at the official launch of the Isoko Outstanding Personalities/Awards ceremony held in the Oleh community on Saturday.
He observed that the Uzere community in Isoko North Local Government Area is the second community in Nigeria where oil was discovered, but attributed the noticeable lack of socioeconomic development in Isokoland to what he tagged “Pull Him Down” syndrome among the people.
“Isoko Nation is full of persons with PHD also known as “Pull Him Down” syndrome,” he said.
He advised the Isoko people to put a halt to the practice of pulling down their own, especially their leaders and mentors.
Rather, he enjoined them to embrace unity, unite in love as a people, and thereby move the Isoko nation forward.
He said, “I am not saying the leaders have done exceptionally well. The Isokos have no representatives at the federal and state levels, including at the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.
While disclosing how some Isoko people truncated his political ambitions in 1991 when he made moves to vie for a political seat, he recalled how he consulted the late Otobo, who in turn directed that he meet with certain persons within Isoko land.
“Those he asked me to go and see, killed my dreams”, he lamented just as he urged the Isoko people to stop the practices of pulling down their own, especially their leaders and mentors and unite in love as a people and move Isoko nation forward.
Ogidi commended an activist in the area, Comrade Felida Osede Essi, Publisher of Isoko Mirror Newspapers, for promoting the ideals of the Isoko nation and particularly for writing the book.
“You have done well by reminding us of the great sons and daughters of what they’re doing and for encouraging us,” he stated.
Earlier in an address, Essi urged the people of Isoko ethnic nationalities to unite and speak with one voice for the interests and development of Isoko land.
She also appealed to the government at all levels as well as corporate bodies and well-to-do individuals to support Isoko youths in their creative endeavours to reduce unemployment and, by implication, reduce crime and immorality to their barest minimum.
The Special Adviser to Delta State Governor on Project Monitoring and Audit, Dr GoodNews Agbi, who also spoke at the event urged the people to encourage intellectual works, especially among the youths, saying this will go a long way in helping to attract development to the Isoko nation.
