By Dave Okpogadie. Asaba
Ahead the bye election to fill the vacuum created by the demise of the Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Tim Owhefere, an Isoko advocacy group Isoko United Parliament, Asaba (IUPA) has called on concerned authorities to ensure the office of the Majority Leader remains with the Isoko nationality.
This demand was made during an extra ordinary emergency meeting of the group yesterday in Asaba.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the Isoko group appealed to all concerned parties in the emergence process of a new Majority Leader to ensure the Majority Leader office does not leave Isoko nation as it is the only prominent office in the government of the state that is occupied by an Isoko man
According to the communiqué, from the positions of the Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chief Judge, Accountant General, Secretary to the Government of the State etc. Isoko, a rich oil producing ethic nationality, whose abundant natural wealth has sustained the state from inception till date, is occupying none.
The group also pointed out that existing precedence in the Assembly has it that principal positions are zoned to federal constituencies such that when a principal officer is removed or dies another member from the same federal constituency is elected or appointed into the vacant position. They gave examples of Rt. Hon Francis Megbele to Rt. Hon. IFK Omatsone (Itsekiri), Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei to Rt. Hon. Peter Onwusanya (Aniocha/Oshimili) Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya to Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevbori (Okpe/Sapele), Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi to Rt. Hon. Ochor Christopher Ochor (Ndokwa/Ukwuani)
The communiqué added that any attempt to zone the position of Majority Leader of the House to a legislator from another ethic nationality or federal constituency would amount to great injustice to Isoko people.
The group however expressed the hope that the wisdom of the leaders would be put in good use for the right thing to be done for the betterment of Delta State.
Fielding questions from journalists at the occasion, the interim chairman of the group, Palmer Ogheneyole Nath, pointed out that the group is purely non-violent advocacy group, adding that they had no intention to be violent.
“we have made our point and we believe the right thing will be done if it happens otherwise, we’ll congratulate the person that is elected, but then, it would be on record that we made our point’’
