COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE “ITSEKIRI ECONOMIC SUMMIT” ORGANISED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ITSEKIRI GRADUATES, NAIG

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE “ITSEKIRI ECONOMIC SUMMIT” ORGANISED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ITSEKIRI GRADUATES, NAIG IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOUNDATION FOR ITSEKIRI NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (FIND), HELD ON THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 AT P.K PUB & RESTAURANT, No. 64, ESISI ROAD, GRA, WARRI, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

PREAMBLE:

Worried by the apparent lack of vision and economic development masterplan or road map for the Itsekiri nation over the years by those saddled with the responsibility of steering the ship of our nation in their various political and economic capacities, thereby engendering a feeling of anomie, apathy and indifference to the overall advancement of Iwereland, Disturbed by the new mindset of “dakpenisation” of Itsekiri commonwealth by some self-styled selfish leaders bent on shortchanging the ethnic nationality in a most unconscionable and repugnant manner, Challenged by the need to put on its thinking cap in interrogating our past, present and future deal and prospects on all available human development index within the larger Nigerian State and Armed with the flint tool of courage, the sickle of lavish goodwill and the tonic of unrestrained optimism for a yet brighter and more glorious future for the entire Iwereland,

The National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG), in partnership with the Foundation for Itsekiri National Development (FIND), a non-Governmental Organization,  against all odds and deliberate human mischief successfully held the much publicized Itsekiri Economic Summit with the theme, “The Development of Iwereland and Sustainable Growth” on Thursday August 31, 2017 at P.K Guest Houses, GRA, Warri, Delta State which purpose is to ventilate opinions by stakeholders and aggregate same for the onward progress of the kingdom.

The economic summit which was well attended by Itsekiri sons and daughters of different political persuasions and ideologies but of goodwill from far and near reached the following decisions with resolutions contained in this communiqué for the way forward for the new desired Itsekiri nation:

1. That the over fifty years of huge receipts and royalties from oil and gas exploration in Iwereland has not impacted the nation in terms of concrete infrastructural and socio-economic advancement of our towns and communities. Rather it has been a sorry tale of criminal neglect and abandonment by those entrusted with these responsibilities. The Itsekiri ethnic nationality even though highly influential in local and global sphere has not taken due advantage of this opportunity. The picture on the political and economic canvass remains uninspiring, beggarly, mediocre, contradictory and disheartening to discerning minds. The Itsekiri nation appears short of rediscovering itself like other nationalities in a highly politically sensitive landscape where ethnic preservation rather than self preservation is the new order. Itsekiri nation must not shy away from this stark reality but rather do all that is incidental to attaining this identity. Participants agreed that the fault is not in our stars but in our acts of omission, failing, refusing and neglecting to strike the iron while still hot.

2. That there is therefore urgent and radical need for rebranding, reengineering and reorientation on all fronts for this dignified and enviable nation under one King and one language in the Niger Delta to be spearheaded by Itsekiri graduates, intellectuals, professionals and kinsmen of goodwill ;

3. That there is dire need to articulate a comprehensive ITSEKIRI ECONOMIC MASTERPLAN for the nation. This should aggregate the Itsekiri ideology on short, middle and long term essentially developed in synergy with all sons and daughters of the nation to inspire, propel and guide all compatriots along the Itsekiri economic prosperity dream for the 21st century. The ITSEKIRI AGENDA must be developed through the input of progress-minded sons and daughters in the kingdom and must become the charter of the nation;

4. That since the unfortunate Warri crisis, our political and economic faultlines have remained needlessly sharp and wide, leading to self aggrandizement with a totally strange un-Itsekiri disposition toward the advancement of the nation. Those we once prided in and thought were gallant in defending the kingdom in this era have sadly constituted themselves into a formidable cabal with very deep proboscis latching onto the economic jugular of the Itsekiri nation, and they have vowed to perpetually collaborate in under-developing the nation;

5. That for Itsekiri to break through from the stranglehold of this self-imposed underdevelopment mindset, patriotic kinsmen must think through by evolving a completely new template of economic paradigm defining the Itsekiri Agenda. The reality should begin to dawn on the Sanballats, Tobiahs and Ahithophels in the kingdom that it is no longer business as usual and therefore they had better join the popular train of solution finders and be innovative, creative and proactive toward the promotion of the superior ITSEKIRI AGENDA.

6. That the Itsekiri nation must as a matter of utmost urgency rediscover herself and take steps to specialize in its area of strength, including Education, Information Technology and Medical Tourism that have the potential of turning Itsekiri nation into a major Nigerian info-tech hub of the 21st century.

7. That the level, degree and amount of waste in financial value to Itsekiri nation in recent times has reached, if not crossed, the alarming stage. The brilliant document titled, “The Odyssey of Waste,” detailing the mindless siphoning of over N80 billion of Itsekiri funds by self-imposed leaders is very much handy for reference. Consequently and henceforth, all Itsekiri funds via royalties and sundry payments for oil exploration should no longer be dispensed at the whims and caprices of a few self-imposed kinsmen but rather must be appropriately channeled through a transparent, credible and generally approved body like a foundation for the  judicious expenditure of such funds on economically viable, tangible and beneficial projects. 

8. That Itsekiri nation must brace up with the reality of the limited life span and imminent depletion of oil in less than fifteen (15) years in its territory and indeed the entire Niger Delta region of the Nigerian state. This should spur the nation into exploring other productive means of sustenance as a people, chief among which is huge investment in education as the greatest tool yet for liberation, innovation and unleashing our potential. There is need to key into the laudable idea of the proposed wholly indigenous world class University of Warri for Itsekiri sons and daughters of Iwereland. A significant chunk of the monies accruing to Itsekiri host oil and gas communities should be committed for immediate take off of this institution. Also there should be the establishment of cottage industries in our communities as well as agro-processing initiatives, amongst others to gainfully occupy our people.

9. That this parley shall be a continuous one to aggregate the views, suggestions and opinions of all Itsekiri men and women of goodwill. Since our challenges are self-imposed, our solutions should also start from within. The time to take back our Itsekiri nation is now!

The organizers of the Itsekiri Economic Summit, sincerely appreciate the Presidency under the able leadership of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army, David Ejoor Barracks, the Area Commander, A-Division, Warri, the mother of Itsekiri conscience, chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, (Irojowo), the Igba of Warri Kingdom, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju member representing Warri Federal Constituency, Hon. David Tonwe the Director-General, Delta Waterways and Land Security, Hon. Vicent Uduaghan Commissioner for Transport Delta State, our resource persons, professionals, academicians, community leaders, the media, and all Itsekiri kinsmen desirous for a total and fundamental change of the present anti-progress status quo. Indeed, the journey to the promise land has just begun.

Signed:

Comrade Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema

President, National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG 

Mr. Ben Eburajolo

Secretary, NAIG

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