The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe have incurred the wrath of the Isoko people in Delta State, Nigeria.
Reason? The non-inclusion of the ethnic nationality in the Ministry's 2012 budget.
Another reason the Isoko people are bittered with Orubebe is that the ministry's official website, either by commission or omission also neglected or refused to acknowledge Isoko as one of the ethnic nationalities that made up the Niger Delta region.
Coming under the auspices of the now populated social media forum, 'Umeh Need Road', a non partisan pressure group poised to attract development to Isoko land through constructive and objective engagement, the Isoko people expressed displeasure over the non-inclusion of their mother land in the ministry's budget despite its contribution to the nation's oil wealth.
Signed by the Secretary of the forum, Mr Zino Ugboma, the forum in a communique issued after its emergency meeting, on behalf of the Isoko people, demanded an apology from Orubebe, as well as the shutting down of the ministry's website until Isoko is given its rightful place.
"That the Minister in charge of the ministry issues a press statement published in National dailies apologising to the Isoko people for this injustice.
and we in Umeh Need Road Forum earnestly believe and hope that the Honourable Minister will treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves", the communique said.
The people also demanded that the ministry should prepared a supplementary budget that would cater for the Isokos stressing however that such budget must commensurate with what Isokos contribute to the nation's coffers.
Ugboma, in the communique noted that Isoko as one of the five ethnic nationalities that make up Delta State contribute hugely to the nation's wealth through its oil and gas resources as such should benefit economically and politically from the resources derivable from the area.
He lamented however that the story of oil and gas exploration throughout Isokoland has been characterised with dearth of agricultural produce, pollution, general environmental degradation, poverty, discontent and loss of lives instead of yield purposeful results that would better the lot of the people.
The communique however reminded Orubebe that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was set up in good faith by the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua as a result of the neglect and deprivation suffered by the people of the Niger Delta and as a direct response to the agitations of the inherent nationalities.
It therefore held that it's unacceptable for the Ministry to sent to the National Assembly its budget for the fiscal year 2012 and obtained approval for same without the inclusion of any project be it in terms of infrastructural developement or human capital developement for the Isoko Nation.
While saying that the Isoko people are a peace loving people, the communique warned that the people also have "the potential to react appropriately when pushed to the wall" adding "a stitch in time they say saves nine".
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