Challenges Facing Isoko Politics: The Way Forward

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Over the years, Isoko politics has been relegated to the background due to some voracious and recycled politicians who abruptly refused to relinquish power to this vibrant younger generation of Isoko hope.

The creation of Umeh Needs Road (UMR) forum by one vibrant young legal professional, Afahohor Danjuma Duncan has able to use this enlightening social media to disseminate investigative and balanced information to Isoko people that link with this forum. Though Umeh Needs Road forum is not a political social media but a social media set up specifically to draw the attention of the Delta State governor, Dr.Emmanuel Uduaghan to Umeh abandoned road project over the years by some Isoko promised and failed politicians who never had the minds of the people that voted them into power.


The recent political endorsement of Hon. Leonard Okuweh Ogor for the fourth term by some PDP elders' forum indicated that politics is played on political experience in Isoko with massive consultation from political stakeholders in the region. To some extent Hon. Leo Ogor has creditably done well in representing Isoko Federal Constituency since 2003 till date.

Hon. Leo Ogor is one of the distinguished House of Representatives members who has displayed legislative prowess in the house with polished English Language. Hon. Leo Ogor deserves a fourth term but the issue of one man, one vote, one woman, one vote, one youth, one vote must be applied in Isoko politics come 2015 not one man and selected or endorsed candidate for Isoko nation.

Isoko politics is still at the cleaners, because of the few electoral vacancies in Isoko region. The Delta State Local Government elections are coming up in October 14, 2014, Isoko South and Isoko North have more than 15 aspirants jostling for one position and the other. Out of the 25 local governments in the state, Isoko has only two; Isoko South and Isoko North which population is over 500,000 people. None of our political leaders and elders either in power or out of power have agitated for more Isoko Local Government Areas like Isoko west, Isoko east and Isoko central.

At present Isoko nation has 19 clans, Isoko North has 13 electoral wards while Isoko South has 12 electoral wards and total is 25 wards and Delta State has 9 federal constituencies while Isoko has only one which is presently occupied by Hon. Leo Ogor,the modern father of Isoko politics.

Most of the present serving Isoko representatives have abysmally failed to think outside the political box due to self-centred politics in Isoko over the years. The plethora of young aspirants jostling for Isoko modern day politics reviewed that Isoko had grown beyond politics of money rather voting for credible and accessible individuals with pedigrees that can deliver the goods not political party. PDP is the stronghold of Isoko politics while opposition parties have been carpeted to zero level. Politics of marginalization, disunity and pull-him-down syndrome (PhD) are bane of Isoko political growth and development.

One thing that keeps bordering my mind, is the recent kangaroo political empowerments of elected Isoko representatives who used' Liabilities' popularly known as 'cars' as license to death on some political lackeys in the region. The worst is that some of these youths are unemployed but highly educated to the core. Most of the ostensible Isoko politicians do not understand the rules of party manifestoes or programmes before contesting any given election rather do what their minds lead them and nothing more.

The problem is that Isoko people have qualified aspirants jostling for one political office or the other but have few electoral vacancies in the region. Our self-styled Isoko politicians claiming to be fathers of Isoko politics after the demise of doyen of Isoko politics, Chief James Otobo of Uzere kingdom cannot fight for more electoral positions in Isoko.It is constitutional but Isoko people must voice out their plight to the government.

In the Delta State House of Assembly, Isoko nation has Isoko South Constituency1, Isoko South Constituency 2 and Isoko North constituency where there is need to have Isoko North constituency 2 to equate the Delta State political structure. At least all the Delta State region has three local governments and federal presence but Isoko nation has none. No federal university is situated in Isoko till now. Apart from police stations and other state establishments. One problem with Isoko political class is that they are not ambitious in political positions.

How can Hon. Leo Ogor cannot contest for governorship position of the Delta State 2015 or go for senate rather wants to go for House of Representatives for 4th term again. It is sad that some of our Isoko politicians are relegated to the background of Delta politics. We thanked God for Delta State governor, Dr.Emmanuel Uduaghan to have nominated the current President-General of Isoko Development Union (IDU), Chief Paul Omu of Olomoro Kingdom to the ongoing National conference in Nigeria. That was a plus to Isoko nation but that is not enough for recognition for a region that produces oil and gas that contributes to the Nigerian economy on daily basis.

Again, there is need to have Isoko south and North Federal constituencies instead of just Isoko federal constituency that represents few Isoko interests and nothing else. To some extent, Umeh Needs Road forum and other social media forums have helped to enlighten Isoko people in politics especially those that want political transformation in Isoko region. After all, the Isoko Development Union (IDU) that ought to be the mouth-piece of Isoko region is now taking to the waterways due to leadership tussle among leaders in the union.

One issue that keeps worrying my mind is the inability for either political leaders or elders to organise town hall meetings for our political aspirants in Isoko. Town hall meetings make politicians to speed up their political promises when elected into political positions. Both young and old Isoko politicians must learn to work together as one family. As far you are from Isoko nation, you are from one family not divided one. Traditional rulers and party leaders of various political groups must also learn to work in one accord than using the multi-national companies to cause problems to Isoko communities.

Isoko politics is callously centred on greediness, corruption, arrogance, intimidation and division. If Isoko politics must progress further in future elections in Delta State, everybody in Isoko must speak with one voice whether opposition party or not. If Barrister Duncan Afahokor and other non- Umeh indigenes had not joined together to form this notable grassroots forum to comment on the dilapidated state of Umeh road,Dr. Uduaghan would have not taken Umeh people road network serious on his infrastructural drive in the state.

Isoko politics is not recognised nationally as a result of bad political leaders representing their interests in recent past years. In the recent major ethnic groups rating in Nigeria, Isoko name was excluded while other groups like Yoruba, Ibo, Ijaw,Hausa, Edo, Efik,Idoma,Fulani,Igala, and Kanuri were listed.

Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups and 4000 dialects. It is good for all sons and daughters to rally round any credible person in Isoko that wants to contest for the position of governorship position either from opposition or ruling party. Isoko social media should not be used to cast aspersions on political leaders and elders in Isoko but to correct the so-called political ills in the land. We must graduate from community politics to national one so that Isoko nation will be recognised nationally and internationally than grouping us with Urhobo nation.

Godday Odidi,

Public Affairs Analyst

Mindset Media Limited

08058124798.Lagos

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Articles by Godday Odidi