There comes a time in the history of a people, whom have been subjected to untold torture and alarming hardship that a man arises among them to lead a revolution to liberate them from such slavery and man’s inhumanity to his fellow citizens. The Isoko federal constituency has for too long been held captive by political bourgeoisie, who feel it is their birth right to remain in power and dictate the destiny of others for as long as it pleases them without recourse to the welfare or growth of the people.
Our people in Isoko land have for so long been deceived, cajoled, used and abused for political gains without corresponding dividends of democracy from the political kleptomaniac leaders. Wealth have been monopolized, governmental contracts have been made a family affair, the youths have been denied meaningful empowerment and employment opportunities, our women have been neglected and restricted to subsistence farming and petty trading, our roads are death-traps, our healthcare system are not functional and other critical infrastructures are either moribund or non-existent… If some public projects have been done or initiated at all, they are either shabby, substandard, non-functional or abandoned. This has been our fate but it is time we consciously come together irrespective of our political divides and say “Enough is Enough!!!”
In 2012, I remember vividly that NIMASA offered numerous Niger Delta Science students the opportunity to study overseas and they were also paid monthly until the duration of their studies. The Ijaws, Itsekiris, Urhobos and others in Delta State and other parts of Niger Delta partook of the opportunity because the Forms were readily available in the streets for their people. Those that undergone that program have since graduated and some of them have been engaged while others stand a chance of being employed by NIMASA and other related agencies. However, the Isoko people despite their contribution to the treasury of this country, were totally shortchange. Perhaps, there was no one to fight for us or maybe our opportunity was sold for personal aggrandizement. Whatever happened, the Isoko youths have been denied a lifetime opportunity and this disservice cannot be corrected or undone. We just have to learn our lessons and move forward, that is if we are ready.
Related: https://citizenscourtnews.blogspot.com/2019/03/house-of-representatives-apc-presents.html?m=1
Outside other great opportunities that the Isokos have been denied outrightly due to ineffectiveness and/or egoism of our political bourgeoisie, it is also worthy of note that the Isoko ethnic group have been excluded from the nonviolence phase of the federal government amnesty program. As we speak today, billions of naira are making their way into the hands of some ethnic nationalities and their people in Delta State and Niger Delta in terms of Scholarship for post graduate programs and other financial benefits. Unfortunately, the Isokos are again missing in action. This is quite disheartening and totally provocative. Some of our daring and patriotic youths have tried all that is within their powers to see that Isoko is not denied this unique privilege but to no avail. If only we have a responsive representative that has the interest of our land and the growth of our people in the House of Representative; if only we have a Senator of the Isoko extraction; if only we were privileged enough to have a Minister or other powerful and influential persons in government, perhaps, we would not have been denied or rejected in our own land. Unfortunately, we have a Representative who is so afraid to contest for higher offices like the Senate after gaining much grounds in the House of Representatives or recommend Isoko people for influential appointments, so that other Isoko sons can go for the House of Representatives and other appointive offices to increase the bargaining, lobbying, and negotiating power of the Isoko people in the future. This is why we must all take it as a challenge and reposition things in the next political dispensation. The House of Representatives is not a personal family House of anyone; the Isoko people have the mandate to choose a Representative that can bring great opportunities to them not someone that only remember us only in electioneering periods. We need to shun clannish sentiments to do things rightly. This is very important!!!
Thank God we have a man who is known to have the interest of the Isoko at heart, a man that has greatly succeeded in all his endeavours, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas as the APC Candidate for House of Representatives in the forthcoming elections. What a great opportunity to get things right! With Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, we can be rest assured that the Isokos will not take the back seats when important opportunities are been shared. Our stake from the federal government will not be sold but shall be brought home to us by Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas. Federal government interventionist Agencies and Commissions will be made to give the Isoko people what is rightfully theirs. Renovation of classrooms will not only be our lots but other mega projects will be attracted to bring development and economic growth to our land. Our schools will be transform to model and modern schools and our healthcare system will be greatly improved.
Let me also inform you that based on his qualifications, his rich profile and years of experience in the financial world, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas will be given his due respect in the House of Representativeness and such important offices like Chairman of the Appropriation Committee will be given to him. This will increase our bargaining power and Isoko shall experience true development. We shall not witness the insertion of non-existent projects into the federal government budget for personal enrichment but projects that will verifiably bring development to our land. We shall always hold town hall meetings with Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas to get feedback from him and to also brief him of important needs in our constituency. Joel-Onowakpo will be close to you, feel your pulse and address your most pressing challenges.
More so, our youths and women will be meaningfully empowered and engaged to be self-reliant. Qualified youths will be awarded contracts to create room for wealth transfer from the political bourgeoisie that have been monopolising wealth to the ordinary and well-read Isoko youths who have been relegated to the background for decades. Personally, I know that Isoko will be greatly impacted and it will rub off on you and me.
Honestly, we have a great opportunity in our hands to completely change the ugly narrative and redefine our political destiny. We must therefore arise above pettiness, clannishness, selfishness and political party sentiment so as to do the right thing ones and for all. As a youth, it is imperative that you ask yourself what you have gained from the years of representation of the current lawmaker and also ask yourself if you are willing to remain a political porn for the rest of your life. Same goes to you that is claiming community affinity, you must ask yourself that question too.
This is a wake call for all Isoko people. Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas is our sure bet in the next political dispensation, let us leverage positively on this rare opportunity for the betterment of our land and people.
Thank you and God bless the Isoko Federal Constituency!!!
Writen By:
Mc Paul
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