KOKORI TOWN POLITICS AND DEVELOPMENT: YOUTHS ENDORSES FAITH MAJEMITE AS POLITICAL LEADER.

Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe.

There is the obvious tendency that permanent peace and economic prosperity will soon be achieved in the highly volatile political and oil producing town of Kokori in Delta State of Nigeria. The Youths through their cell-leaders on August 9, held a strategic meeting with one of the female socialite and political activist in the community, Chief (Mrs) Faith Majemite (The Oniemor of Agbon Kindom) on ways and means towards achieving permanent peace, political stability and economic prosperity in the area.

Political and economic analysts are of the opinion that the peace accord brokered by Mrs Majemite if acted upon by both Federal and Delta State Governments could permanently resolve the insecurity problems which has in recent times posed threat to oil installations in the area for which legions of soldiers have been drafted to protect oil-wells and installations as well as mounting twenty-four hours military surveillance in the Kokori town. Today, you enter Kokori town with your two hands raised up while vehicles and individuals are thoroughly searched before allowed to enter the volatile town. However, the youths have now resolved to end their aggressive agitation against government for “crude oil financial reparation” as arrears dividend from crude oil exploitation and exportation since 1958

Mrs Majemite, took the bull-by- the -horns, even at the risk of her life, to go all out in search of the cell-leaders of the dreaded Kokori Economic Emancipation Youths Movement (KEEYM) and other groups to broker peace. She was reported to have assured the fierce-looking youths that through her resolved determination their genuine complaints will be channeled to the appropriate quarters in government with a firm promise that they will not be betrayed in the process of negotiations and restoration of permanent peace to the communities. Some of the grey-areas discussed with the youths during the consultation include; extension of amnesty programmes to their members with the understanding that vast majority of youths in Ethiope East communities will be provided job opportunities through strategic vocational training in Nigeria and overseas. Technical training and entrepreneurial skills development that is supported with government soft loans for deserving youths also featured in the discussion which lasted for several hours.

The teaming restive youths also demanded that the federal and state government as well as oil companies’ exploitation oil in the area should as a matter of priority establish special scholarship scheme and higher institution of learning in Kokori town to enable its people have access to free or affordable education at all levels. They said establishing higher institution of learning and government agencies in Kokori town will facilitate the socio-economic development of the oil producing communities in the area. They want the federal government to also order the oil companies and the National Petroleum Corporation of Nigeria (NNPC), to commence infrastructural development of the town by providing affordable housing schemes through the federal ministry of housing and urban development so as to upgrade the living standard of the people whose houses are dilapidated and uninhabitable occasioned by acute poverty and exploitation of their rich mineral oils worth trillions of dollars annually.

The consultation which was held under tight security provided by the restive youths prevented Journalists and press cameras. The youths stated that they agreed to meet with Mrs. Majemite because of her past track records in her deep involvements in community affairs and for single-handedly empowering a reasonable number of Kokori and Ethiope East youths from 1999 till date.  One of the cell-leaders was quoted as saying “we are out for only those unscrupulous and greedy political actors who have stolen our collective wealth. Oniemor (Mrs Majemite) does not belong to that class of politicians which is why we have cleared her to campaign politically in Kokori. No politician should come here to campaign for now.  We are tired of hearing and listening to their fake promises, year in and year out.  Kokori will not welcome deceivers anymore; we need people that will develop our community and our youths. Our core agenda is economic prosperity and nothing more. No more stories from politicians, oil companies and government. President Jonathan and Governor Uduaghan should assist us and develop our town”.

The convener of the consultation, Mrs Faith Majemite assured the youths that her involvement in the negotiation for peace and security stability of community was borne out of her desire to join hands with the Governor Uduaghan’s administration to restore peace and economic prosperity to Ethiope Local Government Area so that all that the “locusts and the caterpillars and woodworms” have eaten can be restored to the people of Kokori and other communities.  She told a hand-full of news hunters after the consultation that “today is my happiest day in life. I have been able to talk to my brothers who are very angry about the hunger, poverty and economic deprivation that has bedeviled our communities. The way things are and decisions reached today, I am going to reach out to the state government and also work closely with Senator Aguariavwodo representing Delta Central at the Senate and other major stakeholders to ensure that development is brought to Kokori and Ethiope East Communities. The youths request must be properly addressed even if it has to be in phases. I trusting God that it shall be well with my people”.

The youths at the end of the consultation moved a motion and adopted Chief (Mrs) Faith Majemite as their only and authentic political leader for Kokori and its adjourning communities and warned that any political actors who represent their interest without adequate consultation and approval will face the youth council. One of the cell-leaders came to the open to make the announcement to the waiting anxious crowd at the end of the consultation. The consultation turned out to be a huge success as there was massive jubilation in Kokori after the peace was brokered. The event  coincided with the victory of Mrs Majemite as the PDP flag bearer for the Ethiope East LGA elections scheduled for October 25, this year.