2023: Ukodhiko And Isoko’s Return To Mainstream National Politics

By Ajiri-Oghene Oreh

With multiplicity of socioeconomic and political challenges, our country, Nigeria is once more at a critical crossroads. Our nation is less than 7months away from the 2023 general elections that will mark the third transition from one democratically elected government to another since the return to democratic rule in the year 1999.

Prior to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary elections some months ago, there were clarion calls by the politically conscious people of Isoko ethnic nationality of Delta State for Pastor Jonathan Ajirioghene Ukodhiko who was then serving as a Civil Commissioner to go to Abuja with the mandate to re-position Isoko into mainstream national politics and bring to them dividends of democracy.

So persistent were the calls by the Isoko people that Ukodhiko heeded, and in all his consultative meetings with PDP leaders, stakeholders and delegates, he harped passionately on the imperative of Isoko been reckoned with in national politics at Abuja. He spoke so bitterly about the cold treatments been received by Isoko at Abuja, and how Isoko, one of the most resourceful ethnic nationality in Nigeria has become so marginalized and traumatized politically no matter the reasons.

He also spoke about the dire need of Isoko having a national political leader, of promoting Isoko interest first and, of his desire to represent the overall and collective interest of the Isoko nation, and most importantly to return Isoko into mainstream national politics once elected into the Federal House of Representatives in Abuja. And it was during his consultative meetings he inspired hope by coming up with the ideology of ‘Okiemute’ which is translated in the English language to mean “The time for something has come” that buoyed the spirits of the party leaders, elders, and delegates of Isoko Federal Constituency which became an inspirational song in their mouths.

Being an irrepressible Isoko nationalist, patriot and irredentist, Ukodhiko’s redemptive political vision in the lower chambers of the National Assembly (NASS), the Federal House of Representatives he envisions simply “to give quality legislative representation and reposition Isoko in the nation’s mainstream politics by ensuring the people of Isoko have and enjoy a fair deal in the Nigerian project.”

Ukodhiko, proposed thus, upon swearing in as the member representing Isoko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abuja, his first political task would be to set machinery of network and appeal in motion that will see to the reversing of the political marginalization status of the Isoko nation through intensified negotiations for significant appointments of Isoko sons and daughters into Federal posts.

And that is not all as he is also positively determined to ensure the facilitation of employments of Isoko sons and daughters who are unemployed and employable into federal ministries, departments, agencies, parastatals as a way of ensuring Isoko ethnic nationality takes her rightful place and be repositioned in mainstream national politics of Nigeria.

True, politics is all about persuasion, the capacity and the ability to completely convince people and institutions. And Ukodhiko is acutely aware of it as he is determined in his irredentist mission to harness fully the power of dialogue, persuasion, alliance, and appeal to take our rightful place and position in national politics and galvanized Isoko into a gloriously greater height.

As we go into the polls come February 2023, let’s be inspired by the hope of the ‘Okiemute’ ideology by rallying behind the proponent, Jonathan Ukodhiko on his irredentist mission in reversing our political status. Let us support and vote massively for him, Jonathan Ajirioghene Ukodhiko, the PDP candidate in next year’s National Assembly election. For now, Isoko, our time has come to take our rightful place in the comity of ethnic nationalities of Nigeria. Isoko, wadooooo!!!!

*Evangelist Oreh writes from Otibio Ward 13 in Isoko North LGA, Delta State.