RE: REJOINDER PUBLISHED IN VANGUARD NEWSPAPER OF 28TH JULY, 2016 BY JUSTINE REWANE, TUNDE OKORODUDU AND FAITH ODONGHANRO IN RESPONSE TO “WHY WE STRONGLY REJECT THE COMPOSITION OF THE PROSED NDDC BOARD: ITSEKIRI AGGRIEVED APC MEMBERS.
Since it is not in our character to be engaged in name calling and use of abusive language, we shall only react to the issues of fact, law and morality raised in the said publication presently.
1. On the authority to speak on behalf of the people of Itsekiri ethnic extraction in the APC chapters of Warri South, South West and North Local Government Areas of Delta State.
Our Submission:
The publication which the rejoinder in issue was a reaction to was done under the hand and seals of (1) Robinson Ariyo (APC 2015 Candidate in Warri South 1 Constituency in for the
Delta State House of Assembly) (2) Felix Ighonmieyetan (Chairman, APC, Warri South-West Local Government Area) and David Omadeli (Youth Leader, APC, Warri North Local Government Area)
Robinson Ariyo emerged as the candidate of the APC, in the 2015 State Houses of Assembly elections, contested the election and challenged the result from the trial court to the court of final determination. He is also a member of the Warri South LGA caucus. It is these facts that make him competent to speak for his people. In fact it can be said that he is one of those who truly popularized the party in Warri kingdom.
Felix Ighonmieyetan is the Chairman, APC, Warri South-West Local Government Area the highest constitutional authority of the party in the LGA.
David Omadeli is the Youth Leader, APC, Warri North Local Government Area. He is a member of the highest constitutional organ of the party in the LGA.
The rejoinder was done under the hand and seals of (1) (1) Justin Rewane (described as APC Leader), (2) Tunde Okorodudu (described as APC Leader). All these persons hold no position that gives them the authority to speak. “Leader” is a loose expression for any person in a party. It is not defined and therefore amoebic in structure. Judge for yourself!
2. On whether Itsekiri presented any other qualified Itsekiri to the Presidency.
Our Submission:
We did present other names apart from Tuoyo Omatsuli and this can easily be confirmed. Beside Engineer Tuoyo Omatsuli, we submitted the following names (1) Engineer Peter Mejebi Arubi and (2) Engineer Demi Mene-Ejgi.
If the three self-acclaimed leaders of APC in the LGAs who authored the said rejoinder are honest, when they thought that there was no other Itsekiri name submitted was it not in their right to suggest one if they truly are sons of Itsekiri.
Their new found love, Olorogun Otega Emerho and Prophet Jones Erue, could also have called for names of Engineers and we have thousands of them in Itsekiri. That would have been how to demonstrate leadership and commitment to the love of all the tribes in the party.
3. The position of the law as it relates to ethnic nationalities and the allotment of positions in Nigeria:
Our Submission:
Section 14 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended provides:
“The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need for national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of person from a few states or from a few ethnic or sectional groups in that Government or in any of is agencies”
14 (4); “Provides that composition Government of a state, a ;local government council or any of the agencies of such Government or council and the conduct of affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognize the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation”
The above the grund norm of our land which every other law must take queue from.
APC is a party whose motto is “Justice, Peace and Unity” (Article 3 of the Party’s Constitution) and whose fundamental objective is: “To actively condemn and resist all forms of oppression and exploitation of Nigerians” (Article 7 (xi) of the Party’s Constitution).
Permit us to take you on a short journey of our pains through the structure of the APC in Delta State, a state with 5 major ethnic groups namely Ibo, Urhobo, Itsekri, Ijaw and Isoko:
1. The Party’s Executive Committee is Chaired by an Isoko man and the Itsekiris are completely absent from decision making positions of the party.
2. The BOT of the party has members from other ethnic groups in the state but the Itsekiris are again completely left out.
Notwithstanding this apparent lop-sidedness, we continued to make our immense contribution to the development of the party in the course of which we have expended significant intellectual and material resources. We have however now been confronted with the unfortunate development surrounding the recent nominations for appointments in the NDDC board by Prophet Jones Jones Erue (Party Chairman) and Olorgun Otega Emerho (Foremost leader) both of whom are at the helms of affairs of this great party in Delta State which regrettably now leaves much to be desired.
To further compound the situation, the recent Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) appointments from where two positions emerged for Delta State again witnessed the deliberate exclusion of the Itsekiris in such a circumstance that it has become clear that we have become a subject of marginalisation within the party.
Permit us to explain. The practice has from time immemorial been that whenever the tenure of any person of a particular ethnic extraction in the board of the commission is truncated, a person from that tribe is re-nominated to complete that tenure because such a position will be counted against the name of that tribe when doing calculations in the future to determine which ethnic group should assume a particular office as it has always been the case. This point was made to the leadership of the party and we thought it was understood by all including the Party Chairman and Olorogun Otega Emerho.
The benefit of rotating positions in a multi-ethnic state can never be overemphasised. It amongst other things, gives constituents the sense of belonging and satisfaction that they are thought of in positive light.
Little wonder therefore that S. 5 (2) of the NDDC ACT provides inter-alia that; “where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Board, it shall be filled by the appointment of a successor to hold Office for the remainder of the term of Office of his predecessor, so however, that the successor shall represent the same interest and shall be appointed by The President, Commander-In-Chief of The Armed Forces subject to the confirmation of the Senate in consultation with House of Representatives”.
We cannot interpret this outside the provisions of the Constitution as any contradiction is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency. See S. 1 (3) of the Constitution.
The Senate before which the names will be confirmed has sworn to defend the Constitution that is what we shall ask them to do. QED!
In the interpretation of statues, it is not the practice to ascribe meanings in such a manner as to make one of its target components disadvantaged while advancing the interest of the other. The above provisions of the law no doubt bears clearly the spirit and intent of the statute in issue.
We made reference to the afore-stated section to further anchor our position because it appears that Olorugun O’Tega Emerhor seeming disdain for Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality was taken too far this time around and it is capable of destroying the APC in Delta State, particularly the new regime at the Federal level style which has enjoyed the unflinching support of the Itsekiri people in the face of apparent of the enormous challenges.
We were utterly dismayed that despite the above fact, the leadership of the party proceeded to nominate an Urhobo man for the position of EDP which ought to have been that of Itsekiri by the rotation arrangement. I think this is the live meaning of marginalisation and one we should all close ranks to oppose. We have contributed too much in terms of finance and intellect to be treated in this manner. We are most disappointed at this development and condemned same in its entirety. No party can survive on the philosophy of fighting members of one ethnic group. We therefore call on all Party members irrespective of tribe and faction to condemn this dangerous development. It is bad for the image of the party that hardworking and committed people would be rewarded with deliberate marginalization. Such is not the intentions of the founding fathers of this grate party.
OUR CASE: Against the backdrop of the above analysis, the simple questions arise;
Question: was the law made to advance a situation where one ethnic group will have unfair advantage over the other?
Answer: We don’t think so.
Question: Is it possible for us to live in such a way as to respect each others dreams and aspirations?
Answer: We think so.
Question: Have we as a people before now agreed on a basis for rotating the positions from the NDDC ?
Answer: Yes we have.
Question: Is there any reason why we should jettison this arrangement?
Answer: We don’t think so.
It is now apparent that our problems transcend the existing laws into the inexplicable whims and caprices that inhibit our empathy of each others positions. Why change the position of the goal post in the midst of the game? I leave that to you as takeaway.
It may interest all well-meaning members of the human society and particularly Deltans to know that when Engr. Godwin Omene, an Urhobo could not complete his 4-year tenure as Managing Director, MD of the NDDC Board, Senator Aguariavwodo Edesiri Emmanuel completed it. When Elder P.Z. Aginighan, an Ijaw was not opportune to complete his 4-year tenure as Executive Director, Finance and Administration, another Ijaw man, Lambert Kobonye did.
The story was not any different when Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, an Isoko by tribe served as Commissioner representing Delta State in the Board, his brother Chief Solomon Ogba completed the tenure.
It is therefore vexatious, obnoxious and constitutes an insult on the sensibility of the Itsekiri people for Olorugun O’Tega Emerhor, to forward the name of Adjogbe Ajenakevwe, an Urhobo to the Presidency as nominee to serve as the next EDP in NDDC when an astute Itsekiri professional held the position for only two years as against the statutory four years. Maybe Emerhor and his co-travellers need to be reminded of a publication in the Vanguard Newspaper of October 14, 2003, where an Urhobo group, Niger Delta Forum petitioned the Federal Government, calling for the appointment of another MD of Urhobo stock for NDDC when Godwin Omene proceeded “on accumulated leave”. The Itsekriis added their voices to this call.
We use this forum to call on all Nigerians irrespective of the difference in tongue or tribe to support a proper consideration of the nomination of the person as EDP in the proposed NDDC Board in the interest of justice and fairness to create a sense of belonging for the Itsekiris in our great party the APC.
OUR DEMANDS:
EITHER:
1. Nominate Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli to occupy the position of Executive Director of Projects, EDP in the Board of NDDC and in respect for the age long rotational arrangement amongst the different ethnic groups in Delta State.
OR:
2. Nominate any other qualified and suitable person of Itsekiri ethnic extraction to occupy the position of Executive Director of Projects, EDP in the Board of NDDC.
This will then assist us as a people to maintain the age long rotational arrangement that has been put in place since the establishment of the commission amongst the diverse ethnic groups in Delta State which will in turn promote peace, mutual respect and harmonious coexistence. As a country it is desirable to encourage sharing formula that does not promote inequity and marginalization.
Long live Delta State!
Long Live Nigeria!!
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