IDU PG urges factional groups to give peace a chance …says nothing short of Deputy Governor Slot is acceptable to Isoko Nation
By Our Correspondent
President General of Isoko Development Union (IDU), the socio cultural umbrella of Isoko Nation, Major Gen. Paul Ufuoma Omu (Rtd.) has called on factional groups of its youth and women wing who are still bent on dragging Isoko Nation back to a state of limbo, to have a rethink and allow peace to reign in the land.
Major Gen. Paul Omu made this call recently at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State during the occasion of the Annual General Conference of IDU.
In his address, Omu stated that there is good reason for Isoko people to rejoice now as the administrative state of the Isoko Nation is back on stable waters and the voyage to a better future is on course, he said “as at the time when this IDU executive was inaugurated, Isoko Nation was plagued with many challenges. The youths were in disarray as many youth factions were formed and were indiscriminately parading themselves as leaders of Isoko youths.”
“The women wing were also not properly disposed to provide good leadership for Isoko women due to internal wrangling and Isoko Development Union (IDU), which was supposed to be the socio cultural umbrella of Isoko Nation lost its ties with the political class and this made it difficult for the union to pursue agenda that would accelerate socio-political and economic development of Isoko Nation.”
Continuing he said “before now, Isoko Nation was in a limbo. But today, it is gratifying to let you know that IDU has successfully repositioned Isoko youths, we have also repositioned the women wing through a peaceful , credible, free and fair elections to resolve and harmonize the lingering crisis within the factions.”
On the external front, the President General stated that IDU has advanced her relationship with other ethnic nationalities the Urhobo Progress Union has had bilateral discussions with IDU on several occasions to expand the socio-economic homogeneity of the two ethnic nationalities. While stating that, “As we inch towards 2015 general election the position of Isoko is that nothing short of the Deputy Governor slot is acceptable to Isoko Nation.”
Responding to the President General’s address, delegates from Jos, Kaduna, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Warri amongst other branches decried not seeing any of their political leaders at the conference, stating that it is an act of disrespect for any political office holder in Isoko Nation not to attend a meeting of this magnitude but claim to be political leaders when dividends of democracy are being shared among the ethnic groups in the State.
They urged the executives of IDU to send letters to the various political leaders in Isoko Nation asking them to come and explain to the apex body if they were there in their offices to represent their interest or the interest of the entire Isoko Nation. They also blamed the home branches for not sending delegates to represent their clans, but called on the executives to enact laws restricting all clans in Isoko Nation from fixing their clan’s conferences on the same day with the IDU National Conference and place fines on any clan that fails to abide by this law.
Major Gen. Paul Omu finally charged everyone to work hard toward the actualization of the dream of producing the Deputy Governor and completing the Isoko unity house in 2015, while assuring the delegates that the foundation will be laid soon.
