…Appeal For Consideration
The Igbu-Akoh people in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State have decried the alleged marginalization of the kingdom by the present administration.
Briefing the press over the weekend at Ahoada, stakeholders lamented that despite their consistent support and contributions to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led state administration since inception of democracy in 1999, the people of Igbu-Akoh kingdom were marginalized politically.
The Igbu-Akoh kingdom, in a communiqué signed by Hon. Kingsley Letem, Hon. Ololube Bob and Mr. Uwoh Jojor, PDP Party Chairmen of Ward 11, 12 and 13 of Ahoada East, said Igbu-Akoh is one of the major kingdoms and indeed the most senior kingdom in the council area consisting of 14 towns/villages with notable responsible and educated sons and daughters.
They however blamed their plight on their non-challant attitude towards this development in the past hence they have decided to speak out now for a change.
In the six (6) point communiqué released to the press, Igbu-Akoh people made it clear that Igbu-Akoh is a kingdom in Ekpeye ethnic nation and therefore, not under any kingdom in Ahoada East Local Government Area, that Igbu-Akoh kingdom has never had a taste of the Abua-Odual/Ahoada East federal constituency upon which the Upata, Ahoada, Abua and presently has been and is still occupying, wondering whether Igbu-Akoh does not exist; insisting that they have qualified sons and daughters of sound academic and political proficiency that can take up appointments and perform very well.
Some of the items on the communique said: “That Igbu-Akoh kingdom should be rewarded for her hard work in state appointments like other kingdoms in Ahoada East Local Government Area and Ekpeye in general, that they are not happy with what they described as the lop-sided appointments was witnessed in the first term of the Wike administration in which Igbu-Akoh kingdom was left out in the scheme of things especially in the state cabinet formation and that the only appointment they got as Special Adviser to the governor on Civil Society Organization was occupied by the late Dr. B.E.N. Thom-Otuya and since after his burial, there has not been any replacement.
“While looking forward and anxiously praying for a redress of the situation by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in this second tenure, the Igbu-Akoh people expressed their profound gratitude to the Rivers State governor for all his developmental strides in the state which was equally extended to the area.
“Worthy of mentioning, the release says, were the on-going Ahoada-Odiemerenyi-Ihugbogo Odieke Akoh road reconstruction, the Ahoada Ekpena road construction in Ahoada-East Local Government Area awaiting commissioning as well as the upgrading of their apex traditional stool of Igbu-Akoh kingdom from third (3rd) class status after so many years of neglect and marginalization to second (2nd) class and finally to first (1st) class status”.
In his reaction, the former House of Reps aspirant for Abua-Odual/Ahoada East federal constituency in the last election under the PDP platform, Hon. Idazhinimeh Goodness Ekwere appealed to his people to take it easy with the projects governor, adding that as an intelligent and focused leader, he has assured Rivers people of even and grassroot development this time around.
Hon. Ekwere made it clear to his people that all that is required of them is calmness and to create a peaceful environment for the Wike administration to reach out to all marginalized area for redress.
Those at the high table included High Chief Goodluck Ekwere; Rt. Hon. Dennis Ololube; Former House of Reps aspirant, Hon. Idazhinimeh Goodness Ekwere, Mr Clement Adi, Mr Gift Ekwelogu and others.
