By Ukoni Efe
Protest has erupted in Isoko nation of Delta State following the relocation of the Faculty of Administration and Management from the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area to Orerokpe.
The faculty which houses the following departments, Business Administration, Accountancy, Banking and Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Office Information and Management, Transport and Marine Technology, and Public Administration was relocated by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
According to multiple reports, the relocation of the faculty was allegedly signed a few days ago by the Governing Council of the University to Orerokpe to be known as the Orerokpe campus, Delta State University of Science and Technology.
The protest which started early morning of Wednesday at Ozoro, the university town witnessed a mammoth crowd drawn from all communities in Isoko nation with leaves and placards condemning the relocation of the faculty from the University without recourse to the people of Isoko.
The protesters who disrupted economic and official activities in Ozoro and seizure of vehicles plying the road vowed that until the state government reverses the relocation, they would not vacate the Ozoro-Kwale-Asaba expressway.
Meanwhile, in a protest letter addressed to the state Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori by a pressure association, Isoko Monitoring Group, (IMG), titled “Relocation Of A Faculty From Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro And Neglect Of The Isoko People Is Unacceptable, Isoko Deserves More”, signed for IMG by Dr Kingsley Oroh, obtained by newsmen, expressed total dissatisfaction and displeasure at the news going round about the relocation of what it called ‘key faculty’ from Delta State University Of Science And Technology, Ozoro to Orerokpe.
“We wish to draw the attention of the governor to this news and urge him to set the records straight before it is too late. We want to state categorically that the governor should not take the Isoko people’s peaceful nature to be a weakness. We have observed with dismay that the governor has jettisoned the PDP rotation formula that brought him to power when he was appointing the secretary to the state government. You will recur that each governor had followed a pattern that in their first tenure, the three key executive positions in the state are shared among the three senatorial districts.
“2007-2011 Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan – Governor (Delta South) Prof. Utuama – Deputy Governor (Delta Central) Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa – SSG (Delta North). 2011-2015, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan – Governor (Delta South), Prof. Utuama –Deputy Governor (Delta Central), Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay –SSG (Delta South). 2015-2019. Sen. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa– Governor (Delta North), Barr. Kingsley Otuaro–Deputy Governor (Delta South), Barr. Ovie Festus Agas–SSG (Delta Central)
“2019-2023: Sen. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa–Governor (Delta North) Barr. Kingsley Otuaro – Deputy Governor (Delta South), Chiedu Ebie/ Patrick Ukah– SSG (Delta North) 2023-date, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori–Governor (Delta Central), Sir Monday Onyeme–Deputy Governor (Delta North), Dr. Kingsley Emu – SSG (Delta North). When it got to your turn your Excellency, you took the SSG that is supposed to be for Delta South to Delta North and gave Delta South Chief of Staff, but OUR PEOPLE KEPT QUIET because they believe PARTY IS SUPREME. Your excellency, it was this same Isoko people that you are backstabbing using the chairman of the School governing council to do your bidding.
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“Remember, it was the same Isoko people that stood behind you to ensure that a minority ethnic nationality from Delta Central emerged as the candidate of the people democratic party (PDP) and subsequently elected as the executive governor of Delta state, but you abandoned the existing rotation of the three key positions in the state among the three senatorial districts of the state and now you are coming for the only university in Delta South. Is this what the MORE agenda means? Your Excellency, we want to let you know that as the executive Governor of the state, you have the power to establish a university campus anywhere in the state. The Isoko people are not and will not stop you from establishing a campus in Orerokpe or Osubi just the way Oleh and Anwai campuses were created.
“However, worthy to note that the Law and Engineering faculties in Oleh today were never in existence at Abraka, so they were never a product of relocation, the same for faculties of agriculture, management sciences, and environmental sciences that were created at the Anwai campus, so leave the faculties in Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro alone.
“Give the proposed Orerokpe or Osubi campus a faculty that does not exist in Ozoro. Your Excellency, the Isoko people voted for you, and the PDP with the high hope that ongoing projects such as the Ozoro market, Irri Technical College, and Isoko Ring Road would be completed within three months of your assumption in office, but the opposite is what we are experiencing.
“Projects that were started in other places have been completed, while those in Isoko have become dwelling places for rodents and destitute. You have been going around the state for project inspection. When will you come to Isoko to carry out project inspection? Your Excellency, Isoko nation is not just a major contributor to the state revenue, but the recent elections have shown that it’s not going to be business as usual.
“The water goddess producing Sokoto votes in the Riverine communities of Delta South has been captured by BVAS. Isoko is now the bride of Delta South as the results of 2023 elections have been revealed. If the needful isn’t done. We will mobilize our people, and we have the capacity to do it against the PDP. The shocker from LP won’t be compared to what PDP will face in Isoko Nation. UNGRATEFULNESS IS A SIN.
“Finally, we call on all Isoko sons and daughters, especially the youths to put aside their primordial and parochial interests and join efforts together to demand justice and seek for development for the Isoko people from the government of the day.
“The youths have to understand that one of the tools of the ruling elites is divide and rule. Therefore, the unnecessary bickering should be discontinued forthwith to pursue such causes that are capable of bringing development to Isoko nation. Unity is strength; this is what we need to conquer at this critical time. We also want to put all Isoko youths on red alert and be ready to do the needful when called upon as this battle is not a sprint but a marathon.”
However, during a visit on Tuesday by leaders and traditional rulers of Isoko nation led by the President of the Isoko Development Union, (IDU), Chris Akpotu to the state governor at government house, Asaba, Oborevwori disclosed that the National Universities Commission, (NUC), had approved the establishment of three more faculties for the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.
The Faculties which include Basic Medical Sciences, Pharmacy, and Health Sciences, Oborevwori, thanked the Isoko nation for their support and for being worthy in-laws, assuring that his administration would continue to do everything within its powers to develop all parts of the state, adding that “I appreciate this visit because it is long overdue. I know the support that you people gave to me and I made some promises that I am still keeping till today. The Chief of Staff was the first person I appointed from Isoko nation. I have given key appointments to the Isoko nation. You have also come with some requests. I have taken note of all the requests you made. Like I promised, I am going to be Governor for all Deltans and I am doing just that.”
