With the September 11 by-election into the vacant Isoko South constituency I around the corner, the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has declared that it is fully prepared and that it is going to be an opportunity for the party to prove its mettle in Delta State ahead of the 2023 general elections.
It would be recalled that the Isoko South Constituency I seat in the State House of Assembly became vacant on account of the death of the former occupant of the position. Following his death, INEC has fixed September 11 for the by-election into the vacant seat.
Meanwhile, the APC which held its primary recently produced Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo as the flagbearer of the party in the forthcoming by-election.
In an interview with newsmen in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area recently, Ifowodo stated that the September 11 by-election will be an opportunity for the APC to demonstrate its resolve towards 2023, adding that the party was prepared for the by-election.
He said: “We are very prepared, absolutely prepared. The leaders of the party said we need to start making a statement if we are serious about 2023. And one of the surest ways to do that is to take on this by-election, because of the vacancy by reason of the death unfortunately of that gentleman. That there can be no better opportunity to show our intent towards 2023”
On what his selling points are, regarding soliciting for votes towards the September 11 by-election, Ifowodo said that his several years as a pro-democracy and human rights activist is one of his selling points, pointing out that he has been a known voice in the struggle for democracy.
According to him, his selling points predate his short period as a state representative in the board of the NDDC, adding that his point of emphasis is about democracy, deepening of democracy, having credible people and a history of the struggle for democracy,
“My selling point predates my being in the NDDC board. At the risk of saying so myself, I think I’m a known voice in the struggle for democracy even at a time when we did not have expectation of running for office. I became known as an activist as a student, especially at the peak of the 1989 nationwide anti-SAP protest which took place in the University of Benin.
“So, my selling point predates my joining the board of the NDDC because we are talking about democracy, we are talking about deepening democracy, we are talking about people with integrity, credibility and a history of consistency in the struggle.
“I think it is this credential that speaks far more, in my view, to my being the best candidate to represent this our constituency in the State House of Assembly”, Ifowodo said.
Reflecting on his performances in his two-years period at the NDDC, the renown social critic lamented that the board of the commission was dissolved midway into his tenure of four years, noting that in spite of the shortness of time, he did a number of things.
“We tried to use whatever that was available then, to execute emergency projects. But the limit to that is that you can’t do big projects. But I did a few things on schools rehabilitation. In Isoko land here alone I did about rehabilitation in three schools.
“We also did a few things on road rehabilitation, skill acquisition, scholarship, etc”, he recalled.
On what he understood to be the challenges of the people of the Constituency, Ifowodo averred that although they share a common concern with other Nigerians, the Isoko people feel greatly marginalized considering their contributions to the nation’s economy.
According to him, apart from a few dilapidated post offices and police stations, there are no federal presence across the entire Isoko land.
He said: “In a way the concerns of our people are not different from the concerns of ordinary Nigerians. It is always the question of basic necessities – food, shelter, clothing, health and then a liveable income either from self-employment or paid employment. These concerns are universal. They are common to all Nigerians.
“But speaking of us being in the Niger Delta in particular, there is also the added concerns of our marginalization, how the wealth that sustain this nation comes from the Niger Delta. As a matter of fact, the second oil well was in Uzere here in Isoko land.
“Isoko land is a major oil producing area and we don’t feel a sense of getting anything that is close to being a fair investment in the area from the federal government. There is a crying lack of federal presence in Isoko land.
“The way it is, other than the presence of moribund post offices and polices stations, there is no any federal presence, absolutely none. And it is a very sore point for Isoko people. There is also the question of lack of appointment for Isoko people to any visible position. We feel absolutely neglected. These are some of the issues I’ll be taking on.
“While in the NDDC, we also assisted in supply of equipment to the faculty of Engineering in the Oleh Campus of the Delta State University, to enable it pass accreditation. We also did the same to the Law Faculty by way of provision of computers, online access to journals and law reports for the purpose of accreditation by the Council of Legal Education.”
On how he would elicit the support of all members of the APC for the by-election, Ifowodo said that he was already reaching out to his opponent and his supporters to join hands in unity for the purpose of the party winning the election.
