The Isoko Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council has posited that the Majority Leader seat in the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) which became vacant with the death of Hon. Tim Owhefere should remain within the Isoko Federal Constituency as it is the only principal office zoned to it in the House.
This was part of the resolutions reached at the March Congress of the Isoko Chapel held at the NUJ Press Centre on Sunday in Oleh, Isoko south local government area of the state.
According to the Communique issued at the end of the meeting, signed by the Chapel chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Ekebe and Secretary Comrade Mike Ilaya, the Chapel stated that though it is within the purview of the party to zone the principal offices in the House of Assembly, the precedent in the House since inception has always respected and retained the subsisting zonal arrangement as they relate to Federal Constituencies in the state.
The Chapel gave examples of Hon. Kent Omatsone who took over from his Itsekiri brother, the late Hon. Francis Megbele, adding that in the 6th Assembly even the late Tim Owhefere took over the position of the Majority Leader from Hon. Johnson Erijo also of the same Federal Constituency.
“In that same 6th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborewori became Speaker of the House when Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya also from the same Okpe/Sapele Federal constituency was removed in 2017″.
Similarly, when Hon. Friday Osanebi left as Deputy Speaker, his position was filled by Hon. Ocho Ocho from the same Federal Constituency.
The Communique stated that ‘based on what has been obtainable within the system, it would be preposterous to short change the Isoko Nation by any attempt to reassign its only position in the hierarchy of the State House of Assembly brought about by the untimely death of Hon. Tim Owhefere.
The Union went on to caution whosoever that may wish to trade off the entitlement of the Isoko people for their personal interest and aspiration to desist forthwith not only in the interest of peace, equity and fairness but also against the background that history would always hold accountable all those who capitalize on the unfortunate death of a neighbour to circumvent laid down rules.
Pointing out that its stand on the matter is part of the Constitutional roles of the press as agenda setters, the Isoko Chapel appealed to the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and other critical stakeholders to ensure that nothing cynical or inimical is done to deny the Isoko people of completing their term of Majority Leader as duly allocated in this 7th Assembly.
In a related development, the Isoko Chapel of the NUJ also resolved to appeal to all stakeholders in the April 10, 2021 bye election in Isoko North State Constituency to fill the vacant seat to ensure that the process is peaceful, free, fair and credible.
The Union enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a level playing ground by keeping to extant rules and the security agents to be vigilant and proactively decisive in avoiding a repeat of what happened in Ekiti state two weeks ago during a State House of Assembly bye-election in which several lives were lost including a police officer.
“The parties involved, their Candidates and supporters are therefore advised to act with restrain to avoid the breach of peace and allow the will of the people to prevail,” the Communiqué stated.
