Mr. Idion, who is a member of the Delta State Land
Allocation Committee, said that the call became imperative against the
background that the other areas (Aniocha/Oshimili and Ndokwa) have had their
people represent the Senatorial District at
the Upper Legislative Chambers. He opined that any attempt to truncate the
chance of an Ika person getting the senate seat in 2011 will seriously affect
the unity of the Anioma people, adding that the only way to prove that equity
and fairness reign in the District is to ensure that an Ika person emerges
Senator in 2011.
He argued that since Nosike Ikpo, Justice Azinge and
Francis Nwajei (from Aniocha/Oshimili) and Patrick Osakwe (Ndokwa) have been to
the Senate, equity and fairness demands that an Ika person goes this time around.
“These people have been there. Infact, Senator Osakwe is currently doing his 3rd
tenure as Senator representing Delta North.
Point to any Ika man that has ever been to the Senate. Therefore, they
must support our people. We are appealing to them to support our aspiration.
They should use this opportunity to reassure Ika people that Anioma is one.
What matters to me, and to every Ika person is to see that an Ika person goes
to the Senate in 2011. It is a clarion call that must be harken to because, if
not, the Ika man will have no option but to conclude that they have no place in
Anioma.”
On the recent widely reported reconciliation of Dr.
Ifeanyi Okowa and Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Mr. Idion who referred to the two
political leaders as “my personal friends” said it was a positive development,
which he believes strongly will be sustained for the general good of Ikaland.
He stated that the meeting which was initiated by himself and supported by Rt.
Hon. Martin Okonta was primarily convened to bring lasting peace to Ika
political landscape, which he agreed was bastardized by some persons who
believe that the only way they can make political progress is to undermine the
unity of the people particularly the political class.
Lamenting that the long period of “seeming political
difference” between Okowa and Ojougboh has given room to external elements to
poach on Ikaland, he said that all the benefits accruable to the area were
hijacked by those promoting political disunity among the people. “We have been
short changed for a very long time, but I am particularly happy at the turn of
events. The effort to bring these our illustrious sons together was not a
wasted one. Ika will now be stronger, politically. Whether anybody likes it or
not, these two are heavy weights in politics at all levels. And we must accord
them their due respect,” he stated, adding that “every other ethnic group is
looking inward to protect and promote their interest. Ika people cannot afford
not to unite. We have put the infighting orchestrated by some selfish persons
behind us. We want to move forward. Okowa and Ojougboh believe so much in the
unity and advancement of Ikaland and they have agreed to work together. And the
people of Ika are happy about it” he stressed.
While enjoining the Ika political class to jettison
all manner of divisive tendencies and unite, so that Ika people could get what
deservedly belongs to them, Mr. Idion called on the people of Anioma to
continue to support governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and ensure he is re-elected to continue
the good work he has started. He argued that supporting Uduaghan for a second
tenure will greatly increase the chances of Delta North producing the governor
come 2015.
He also urged Ika people to exercise patience over the
continued delay in commencement of work on the proposed dualization of Old
Lagos/Asaba road, saying that since the Speaker of the State of House of
Assembly, Hon. Martin Okonta has made an on-the-sport assessment of the
project, the people should wait for the outcome of that visit.
Mr. Idion used the opportunity to commend Ika Weekly
noting that the community newspaper has bridged the information gap in Ika
land in the last 3 years. He particularly praised the publisher, Mr. Steve
Ekiri Mekiriuwa Ashien for pioneering community newspaper in Ikaland and for
his resilience. “Ika Weekly has made it possible for those of
us resident outside Ika land including those in far away places like the United States of America, Britain, Sweden,
Canada, South Africa to
get first hand information on events and happenings back home. I commend the
entire crew for the very wonderful job they are done” he concluded.
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