TOWARDS 2019 Ika Federal Constituency: Between Ambition and Reason

It is axiomatic that for democracy to be enshrined in any society, there must not only be respect for Rule of Law, there must also be equity and social justice. What has really sustained the political peace in Delta state is the PDP principle of power sharing in the form of zoning. It promotes trust and since the return to democracy in 1999 the people of the two local government areas in Ika nation have enjoyed relative political stability due to the unwritten pact to have political offices distributed equitably. This arrangement has given all the communities a true sense of belonging in the political space. In Ika South Local Government Area for instance, while the current member representing the constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly is from Agbor, the Council Chairman hails from Abavo. The arrangement has ensured that the two major communities that make up Ika South are adequately represented in Government.

As the jostle for elective offices gathers momentum, and as the 2019 general elections draw closer there is the need for all political stakeholders in Ika Nation to ensure that this principle is upheld. I wish to particularly comment on the unfolding scenario in Ika North East Local Government Area. Ika North East Local Government Area has nine kingdoms and, has been the norm, elective positions have been shared on a rotational basis amongst the various communities in the area. Currently, the Member representing Ika North East in the State House of Assembly is from Umunede while the Owa axis produced the Chairman of the Council. However, there is an apparent attempt to scuttle the peace in the area with one community aspiring to produce both members at state and national assemblies.

Hon. Tony Elekeokuri, who currently represents the good people of Ika North East at the State House of Assembly, has no doubt, demonstrated capacity, and has given a good account of himself in the last three years. His sterling performance has earned him the applause and commendation of his constituents, and as a result, has been endorsed to continue with his representation of his people.

In the last few months there has been the story of Mr. Sebastian Okoh, also from Umunede eyeing the position of House of Representatives, Ika Federal Constituency. Mr. Okoh, like every other Ika person that has come of age, has the constitutional right to vie for any elective position. But there is a moral burden here! Okoh hails from Umunede, same as the current occupant of the House of Assembly representing Ika North East, who the people have unanimously agreed should be returned to continue with the good work he is doing.

Ika North East Local Government Area boasts of other villages and clans and it would amount to crass injustice for only Umunede to produce both political positions of House  of Assembly and House of Representatives. Such arrangement, if allowed to stand, would obviously make the other clans, villages and wards that confidence and lays any complaints of marginalization to rest in a multicultural State like Delta! make constitute Ika North East to begin to have a feeling of being politically sidelined, which in all sincerity, will impact negatively on our long cherished unity and collective development.

If, as it appears, Ika South does not have a serious contender for the House of Representatives, then Ika Nation should do the needful and return Hon Victor Nwokolo, who is from Igbodo kingdom. That would not only ensure fairness, it would also give us the benefit of a high ranking representative with all the benefits that go with such a position.

It must be clearly emphasized here that no one is against the legitimate ambition and aspiration of Mr. Okoh, and any other person, for that matter, but the point being made here, which I think is morally valid, is that it would amount to short-changing the other communities and clans in the area, to have such two high profiled and important elective offices domiciled in one community. For the sake of equity, and the need to continually engender and promote a true sense of belonging among the good people of Ika nation, there is the need for us to always subsume our personal interest into the broader interest and wellbeing of our people.

At this juncture of our socio-political history there is the need for every Ika man and woman to think and put ‘Ika First’ before our personal interest. This should be our primary concern as a people, especially now that we are fortunate to have our son, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, as Governor of Delta State.
What should matter to every Ika person, both at home and in Diaspora is to work assiduously and pray without ceasing for the continued success, and eventual re-election of our amiable and hardworking Governor, Senator Okowa, who has made us proud as a people, as a result of his superlative and breath-taking performance in all sectors, since taking the mantle of leadership in Delta State in 2015.Nobody should allow his or her personal ambition which, in the long run, would not bring any meaningful dividends to our people, deprive Ika nation this blessing God has bestowed on us.

I want to repeat, for the purpose of emphasis that that it would amount to travesty of justice for Umunede ward alone to produce the House of Assembly and House of Representatives members. if Mr. Okoh who has now defected to the APC because of what obviously looks like an inordinate ambition refuses to let reason prevail, then, the people of Ika North East, will as a matter of obligation, irrespective of party affiliation, prove to him through the ballot that they cannot sacrifice political equity, justice and fairness on the altar of the ambition of one man.