Majority Leader Slot Should Remain in Isoko- Isoko NUJ

By Kelvin Ohoror

The Isoko Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has posited that the Majority Leader seat in the Delta State House of Assembly which became vacant with the death of Hon. Tim Owhefere should remain within the Isoko Federal Constituency as it is the only principal office zoned to it in the House.

This was part of the resolutions reached at the March Congress of the Isoko Chapel held at the NUJ Press Centre in Oleh recently.

 According to the Communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Chapel chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Ekebe and Secretary Comrade Mike Ilaya, the Chapel stated that though it is within the purview of the party to zone the principal offices in the House of Assembly, the precedent in the House since inception has always respected and retained the subsisting zonal arrangement as they relate to Federal Constituencies in the state.

The Chapel gave examples of Hon. Kent Omatsone who took over from his Itsekiri brother, the late Hon. Francis Megbele adding that in the 6th Assembly even the late Tim Owhefere took over the position of the Majority Leader from Hon. Johnson Erijo also of the same Federal Constituency.

 “In that same 6th Assembly, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborewori became Speaker of the House when Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya also from the same Okpe/Sapele Federal constituency was removed in 2017.” 

Similarly, when Hon Friday Osanebi left as Deputy Speaker, his position was filled by Hon. Ocho Ocho from the same Federal Constituency.

Consequently, the Communique stated that based on what has been obtainable within the system, it will be preposterous to short change the Isoko Nation by any attempt to reassign its only position in the hierarchy.