Delta South: Banish Defaulting Isoko Chiefs, Strip Them Of Traditional Titles, INF Tells Isoko Kings

…Says IDU Should Sanction Defaulting PGs, Communities

By Henry Joseph

The Isoko Nation First (INF) has called on the Isoko traditional rulers’ council to banish and strip any titled Isoko man of all his traditional recognitions should he go against their autonomous decision taken for the progress of the Isoko people in the senatorial elections on Saturday, wherein Hon Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was unanimously adopted as the candidate of the Isoko people.

INF insistence has become imperative as some Isoko sons and daughters, despite the decision by both the traditional rulers’ council and the Isoko Development Union (IDU) have openly flouted it to subjugate the authority handed by the ancestors of Isoko land and the Isoko people to the traditional kings and IDU respectively.

In a statement on Thursday, February 23, 2023, by the INF Secretary General, Mr Oviri Kelvin, at INF headquarter in Uruto Emevor in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, the Isoko traditional rulers remain the custodian of our customs and traditions and the representatives of the gods/ancestors of Isoko land.

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“As traditional rulers, their words are of the gods of Isoko land and anyone who flouts it challenges the gods. Anyone who refuses to adhere to such declaration deserves the wrath of the gods and even worse if all the traditional rulers made a singular pronouncement in unison,” he said.

According to him, “As a titled man in Isoko, it is appalling and hellacious display that one who supposedly is a defender of the community he hails from and the enforcer of the decision taken by the traditional institution that conferred on him chieftaincy title(s) happens to be the saboteur trying to ridicule, degrade, desecrate the sanctity of the institution and undermine their authority.

“The traditional rulers’ council must act ferociously and venomously to hand these sets of political marauders prioritizing their selfish interest ahead of the Isoko’s interest to clinch the senatorial seat after other ethnic nationalities in Delta South have, on the instance of equity, are supporting Isoko ethnic nationality to produce the incoming senator after the tenure of Senator James Manager of the Ijaw nation expires.

“Our traditional institution should be respected irrespective of one’s political or societal status and failure to do so should incur the wrath of the gods. That being said, the traditional rulers must unapologetically call all titled chiefs in Isoko land and Isoko nation and read a riot act to them because should they fail to do so, these elements who pride themselves as self-acclaimed distinguished traditional title holders would set a bad precedence for other political marauders in the future,” he stated.

Also, INF has called on Prof Chris Akpotu, President of the Isoko Development Union to hand a harsh punishment to any community President General found wanting of working against the decision of the apex socio-cultural body where it was concluded on December 27, 2021, that the Isoko people deserves the seat of the senate in the next political dispensation.

Recall that the IDU set the ball rolling right at the winding of year 2021 in the Isoko House where the decision, to change the political trajectory of the peace-loving and industrious ethnic nationality in Delta South senatorial district, was reached and concluded. Despite floating two candidates in the two main political parties in Nigeria, the Isoko people were opportune to get Joel-Onowakpo to clinch the APC ticket.

Comr Kelvin stated that going by the firm decision and collective resolve by the apex socio-cultural body of the Isoko people led by Prof Chris Akpotu, the indefatigable IDU President has held a series of meetings with the executive leadership of all clans in Isoko nation with the directive to propagate the resolve to all and sundry in their communities and direct them to vote Hon Joel-Onowakpo Thomas of APC for senate.

“The IDU President General and his executives must be commended for standing firm to chart a new course for the Isoko people in the next political dispensation. It has not been an easy ride but the apex socio-cultural body has stood tall above all forms of opposition surreptitiously or boldly fighting to suppress the Isoko people who believe the Isoko ethnic nationality deserves the senatorial seat for the sake of equity.

“The IDU started well, sustaining the clamor to have the senatorial seat but must ensure it continues breathing heavily down the throat of the community president generals, who are administrative heads of clans. The PGs are responsible for carrying the IDU’s messages to the nooks and crannies of their clans in Isoko nation and failure to do so, such defaulting community or communities must be meted with stringent sanctions.

However, Comr Kelvin commended the traditional rulers’ council and the IDU for what they have been doing so far but appealed that both institutions should not relent in intensifying their efforts by all means necessary to see Isoko clinch the senatorial elections with a resounding victory.

He also called on the Isoko people to see this project as a collective one by shunning all vices of partisanship being fuelled by a few saboteurs orchestrating to truncate the imminent victory of Joel-Onowakpo, the Isoko people’s candidate, for the senatorial elections.