The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh has tasked the executive of the Isoko National Youth Assembly, INYA to mobilise and engage the leaders, women and the youths on peace building and conflict resolution especially of the crises-ridden communities in Isoko ethnic nationality.
He gave this charge in Warri, Delta state on when the executive members of the Isoko youth body led by the President, Comrade Amos Ogbokor-Etaluku paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday.
According to Bashorun, “There is a new wave in the Isoko Ethnic Nationality that is alien to us, where it’s coming from, I do not know, it is very alien to us. The Isokos are known to be brothers keepers. The Isokos are known to be good neighbours. The Isokos are known to be very religious, a pious one at that. The Isokos are known to be very sociable. We are known to be very civil. Yes, we may be republican but in all of these, we are known to be very responsible and peaceful people.
“These are what are known of the Isoko people for ages past, but suddenly, in the recent past, the narratives have changed, and it’s very worrisome that the narratives are changing not for good but for bad,”
“So Mr. President of INYA, I must say that the task is much on you, on your shoulder to bring the youths together, to pass on the message, there is need for us to be at peace with ourselves. There is need for us to be at peace, you have to talk to your members, if it is possible move from clan to clan, from village to village, sensitise them, that they should not make themselves available as tools for this war.
“You must find a way out to talk peace. Mr. President I want to have your commitment on this. You can work with me and I will work with you on way out to get this thing off. In terms of the logistics I will be available because I need peace in Isoko.”
Speaking further, Bashorun Askia said, “Everything about my relationship with you people as at now is hinged on the peace process in Isoko. I am pained, the narratives out there is not good for us, please, help me, and let us do something to change the narrative.”
The DESOPADEC boss who assured the foremost Isoko youth body of the Commission’s continued support said, “Your our visit is timely, I am happy that you came, and DESOPADEC under my watch will continue to cooperate with you because like I said from the beginning that I am aware of the elections that produced you and your Exco and I know it was free, fair and credible, and very genuine and I know for you as Mr. President that I have always known all over the years, is that you have the capacity, and that is why I am saying that capacity I know of you before, this is the time to demonstrate it on the issue of the peace process”, he added.
In his remark, the president of INYA, Comrade Ogbokor-Etaluku said, “The purpose of the visit was to thank the commission’s Managing Director for the role he played in ensuring the emergence of the newly elected executive, the support to the assembly, the unprecedented development being witnessed in Isoko nation and to assure him of the unstinted support of the Assembly in the delivery of concrete dividends of democracy as enshrined in the mandates of the Commission.
Present during the visit were apparatchiks of the Commission including Chief Lawrence Eduje the Chief Security Officer of the Commission, Chief Obaro Godspower the Isoko South Chairman of the PDP and Chief Prosper Edo Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on DESOPADEC Matters.
