CABINET RESHUFFLE : Group Tasks Buhari To Appoint Isoko Indigene As Minister

Worried about the marginalisation of people from the region since 1999, the Isoko Equity Group has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint  an Isoko indigene as next minister from Delta State.

The group said such gesture would serve in the interest of equity, fairness and inclusiveness.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Mr. Silas Bwowe; Secretary, Dr. Prosper Ahworegba, and Chairman Media Committee, Chief John Araka, said  the three distinct ethnic groups that constitute Delta South Senatorial District, only Isoko has not been given a ministerial appointment.

“This, undoubtedly, is gross injustice, unfairness and inequity to an area that has helped to sustain the Federal economy through its oil production that started way back in 1958 at Uzere; the second place oil was discovered and produced in commercial quantity in Nigeria after Oloibiri. Since then our oil fields have remained among the largest on-shore producers in the country.

“Since the advent of democracy in 1999, all other ethnic groups in Delta State have had ministers, some several times over. But no Isoko man has been appointed minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In fact, this has been the case since 1973. What a shame!” he said.

“Other than the ramshackle police stations and electricity poles and cables that deliver epileptic power, there is no Federal Government presence throughout Isoko land.

Highlighting individuals that have appointed as ministers from the state,it statement added that “The current Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum Resources is also from Anioma. 

“This is in addition to the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria who hails from the same Anioma axis of the state.

“Urhobo has had three ministers since 1999. These are Mrs. Grace Ekpigwhre, Minister of Science & Technology;  Dr. Stephen Oru, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Chief Kenneth Gbagi,  Minister of State for Education.

“Itsekiri has had Dr. Roland Oritsejafor as Minister of State for Defence. Ijaw has had Alaowei Broderick Bozimo as a Minister of Police Affairs and Elder Godsday Orubebe as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

“For the avoidance of doubt, in 1999, President Obasanjo appointed Mr. Chris Agbobu from Anioma as Minister of State for Agriculture and Dr.(Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as a two-time Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister  of the Economy.

On the resources from the region ,the statement stressed that “Irri oilfields which are grouped with Okpai in Ndokwa East and operated by AGIP, produces an average of 25,000bpd. This brings total production from Isoko oil fields to an average of 100,000bpd. 

“OML 30 to which Isoko belongs produces an average of 80,000 – 90,000bpd. Out of this quantity, Isoko contributes 65% of the production. This means that Isoko produces between 52,000 – 58,500bpd from OML 30 alone.”

“If OML 26 production of 15,000bpd, which is also in Isoko, is added, it brings production from Isoko to an average of 76,000bpd.

“What a humongous  contribution  to the oil wealth of our  country  which  accounts  for  over 90 percent  of her  foreign  earnings,” the group stated.

They added that there were additional eight flare sites across Isoko land.

“Our people have   over the years paid a heavy price with their health and ecosystems because of their very hazardous impact.  Indeed, these activities have been implicated in the extensive  destruction  of our  natural  environment  and  the  pervasive prevalence of a variety of  ailments  such as cancer and neurological disorders  which were once alien to the Isoko Nation.

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