Programme is not for them –Hon Ogor *Exonerates self from fraud allegation on Ozoro road project Hon Leo Ogor is the member representing Isoko Federal Constituency and Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives. In this interview with newsmen, he spoke on why the Isokos did not participate in the Federal Government Amnesty Programme as well as the rumor linking him and a contractor to an alleged fraud in a 28.4km Ozoro road project. Excerpts: Would you describe Isokoland as backward? I will say capital no! Because first, Isoko is a minority inside a minority group with just two Local Government Areas, at the House of Representatives, Isoko is one constituency out of the 360 constituencies but even at that, Isoko has been able to benefit some level of Federal Government projects attracted to the area. Looking at the level of infrastructure that has been attracted to Isoko, they are uncountable but let me quickly list few to save our time. We have first and foremost the Isoko ring road which has just been approved by the Federal Executive Council, the Emevor/ Orogun Road is also in the NDDC budget 2013 which has just been approved, we also have the Owhe-Ologbo/ Abbi Road which is also there in NDDC budget, it has been approved as well. The Ozoro township road has been approved and the contractor is on site, the Oyede township road has been completed and a lot of other roads. There is no community in Isoko that don’t have Federal Government project. However, I think what matters most is the ability touch lives not by giving them some naira and kobo. Governance is all about attracting a certain level of developmental projects to the locality. When you get to Owhe at night, you will be amazed due to the street lights which make the place look more like day time. The same is applicable to other Isoko communities like Umeh, Irri, Oleh, Ozoro, Otor-Iyede etc. At Emede the wooden poles have been changed to concrete poles. How many Isoko sons and daughters would you say are holding elective and appointive positions at the State and Federal levels? Isoko sons and daughters have strategically found themselves in various positions both at the Federal and State levels. We have Comrade Ovuozurie Macaulay who is the Secretary to the Delta State Government. I as an Isoko man is the Deputy Majority Leader in the House of Representative. We also have other two Federal Commissioners; we have Dr. Paul Owhe, who is among the commissioners of the National House of Assembly Service Commission. We have Hon Mathias Eto of Oleh origin who is also commissioner at the Public Complaint Commission. We have Hon Joe Onowoakpo, Chairman Delta State Revenue Board, who is in charge of tax in the State. Arch Ogeh Ajirioghene representing Isoko nation at DESOPADEC, we have Mrs. Betty Efekodha from Ewnwhe, she is the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Delta State, Barr Mrs. Orezi Esievo, Commissioner for Special Duties, also at the State level, and we alsovhave Dr. Okoro who is the Special Assistant to the State Government on Legislative Matters and other Senior Special Adviser to the Delta State Government. In terms of positions and appointments, Isoko is well represented at the State level. We are trying our best for Isoko nation because in terms of infrastructures we are not doing badly; the projects can speak for themselves. I think we need to encourage our politicians rather than castigate them, they don’t execute projects rather the State and Federal Government do. As a Federal lawmaker, my primary duty is to make good laws for the good governance of this nation but even at that there is still need to visit other vital issues that will put smiles on my constituents which I represent. Take for instance the Isoko ring road has been approved, it’s important that I sort for funds; as such I can’t just sit in one place idle in the house. We really don’t want to disappoint them, as such we are doing our best. What is the place of Isoko in the current Amnesty programme for Niger Delta militants? First and foremost, you need to understand the ideology behind that Amnesty programme, the programme was based on some clear government policies. And what are those clear policies, but first you need to understand what amnesty means because a lot of people don’t understand what amnesty means. Granting of amnesty means, Go and sin no more, where you participated in an event which was totally illegal. As for my people, they are peace loving; they have the fear of God in them. They believe also in Government’s due process as such they are transparent. The Isoko people didn’t take up arms against the government and the policy was created purposely for those who took arms against the government.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:34:33 +0000
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