Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Delta State, Mr. Emmanuel Ogidi, has decried the poor level of development across Isoko land, despite contributing a sizable chunk to Nigeria’s economy, through its oil and gas resources.
Presenting a lecture at the launch of a book, “Isoko Outstanding Personalities,” written by Felida Essi, in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government, he urged indigenes of Isoko nation to develop a “masterplan” bearing a “shared vision” that would drive development in the land.
In the lecture with the theme, “Isoko People And Her Neighbours – A Comparison In Growth And Development”, he bemoaned the epileptic electricity situation in the entire area, which was the second place crude oil was discovered in Nigeria, at Uzere, over 50 years ago.
Emphasizing that the “anomaly should be the rally cry of leaders of Isoko today,” he said with a shared vision, the goal to accelerate development would be easily achieved.
“The emergence of Isoko nation as a growing and developing nation must be on the basis of a shared vision and aspiration. It is not a concept, it has been the true way of all nations. Every successful nation found a way to translate her core values into blueprint for growth and development,” Ogidi stated.
He affirmed that even though not much has been achieved, the Isoko nation is better than what it used to be, citing education and some infrastructures.
Calling for unity in order to move Isoko nation forward, Ogidi urged Isoko people to desist from the ‘pull him down’ syndrome, adding it has contributed largely to the lack of development in the land.
In his opening remarks, Special Adviser to Delta State Governor on Project Monitoring and Audit and Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Goodnews Agbi, stressed the need for more participation in intellectual activities, especially among youths, noting that this would lead to better exposure and attract development to the Isokoland.
In her welcome address, Essi, who is also the publisher of Isoko Mirror newspapers, appealed to government at all levels, as well as corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to support Isoko youths in their creative endeavours so as to reduce unemployment, crime and immorality to their barest minimum.
