The Unity Deficit
One of the most painful observations made by Isoko’s own leaders is that the community has long been its own greatest obstacle. Former PDP Delta State chairman Emmanuel Ogidi puts it plainly: the Isoko people have wasted time ‘pulling down their own leaders, mentors and spiritual fathers.’ The PHD syndrome “Pull Him Down” has cost Isoko representation, resources, and respect.
My vision for a United Isoko is not a slogan. It is a structural commitment, rooted in my own biography as a true representative who has always worked to build bridges across the North-South divide within the constituency, across party lines, and across generational boundaries.
From NUIS to National Stage
My political education began in the students’ union. As an active member of the National Union of Isoko Students (NUIS), I learned early the power that comes from collective identity and organized voice. The lesson has stayed with me: a united Isoko, speaking with one voice in Abuja, can secure far more than a fragmented Isoko competing internally while its resources flow elsewhere.
“Because of our number as people of the same race, we must be united; he has said. This statement resonates deeply in context of Nigeria federal politics, where bloc representation, tribal and regional solidarity translates directly into budget allocations, appointments, and policy attention.”
What Unity Delivers
A united Isoko can:
- Negotiate stronger positions at the NDDC and DESOPADEC tables.
- Secure more federal infrastructure projects as a consolidated constituency.
- Amplify the political voice of Isoko people in the House of Representatives and Senate.
- Attract investors who see a stable, organized community as a safe destination for capital.
“Unity is not the absence of disagreement. It is the decision to disagree as brothers and sisters and then act as one.”