THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ITSEKIRI GRADUATES (NAIG) NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO ITSEKIRI GRADUATES WORLDWIDE

The President, National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG) Comr. Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema wishes all our members worldwide a happy and prosperous new year.

As stated in my speech on January 1, 2018, as the president of NAIG, I swore to defend the NAIG constitution and that I will always do by the Grace of God.

The Year 2018 for NAIG was characterized by thorns and thistles that bothers on the welfare of our members and the development of the Itsekiri Nation.

Critical issues such as the Conversion of our VTP5/OTP2, and VTP6 TRAINEES by Chevron Nigeria Limited, funding of Koko-Ogheye Road, Ogheye shoreline Protection, funding of the Trans - Warri - Ode-Itsekiri Road, Ogheye Floating Market, Omadino - Escravos Road, renaming of the National Maritime University-Okerenghigho, relocation of Headquarters of Warri South - West L.G.A to Ogidigben, Establishment of "The Federal Polytechnic Koko" as  sponsored by Hon. Daniel Reyenieju, the 2019 general election party primaries, Dredging of the Escravos Bar, reopening of the vocational training centre Egbokodo etc. characterized the year 2018.

We were able to successfully register over 40 indigent students for the May/June 2018 WAEC, adopted a new constitution, conducted a free and fair election for the new NAIG Executives, and had a hitch free convention in July 2018.

Additional funding was provided for the Koko-Ogheye road with construction resuming till security issues led to suspension of work. Funding was also provided for the Trans-Warri-Ode-Itsekiri Road by the Delta State Government to the tune of #3Billion. Dredging of the Escravos Bar done awaiting dredging of the Warri River.
As we begin another calendar year, the National Executive Council (NEC) through the EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Will continue our free enrolment project for the May/June 2019 WAEC Examination for indigent Itsekiri Students when School resumes.
All members are encouraged to be actively involved in providing quality education to our younger ones especially those in Secondary Schools.

 THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS
We should also bear in mind that the 2019 general elections is barely six weeks away.
As enshrined in our constitution, “the economic wellbeing and or welfare of our members shall be the focal point of the association”. It is on this premise that I wish to call on all Itsekiri graduates and people of goodwill to take the forthcoming general elections very serious. We are all aware that the Nigerian government is the biggest earner and biggest spender of money hence controls the economy of the country. We must therefore be concerned about who govern us as the economic wellbeing of our members is influenced by those who represent us in government.

The 2019 general election is the beginning of a new political life cycle for the Itsekiri nation and as such we must be involved in how our economic wellbeing will be affected in the next four years.

Today, the Itsekiri Nation is at a political cross road. It is either we remain the way we are or we move forward. We cannot afford to vote for candidates who will take us backward as that will only land us in political wilderness for another four years.

 The 2019 general elections is a choice between immediate financial gains and sustainable development.

 The 2019 general elections is a choice between Itsekiri interest and personal interest.

 The 2019 general elections is a choice between political jobbers and political capacity.

 The 2019 general election is a choice between being anti-party and being anti-Itsekiri.

The choice is yours to make.

Our choice in the 2019 general elections will either lead to the completion of the Dredging of the Warri River or the suspension of the project. Our choice in the 2019 general elections will either lead to the opening of the Warri and Koko ports or the continuous closure of those ports. Our choice in the 2019 general elections will either lead to the commencement of work on the Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP) Ogidigben or the continuous hopelessness we face. Our choice in the 2019 general elections will either lead to the passage of the bill for the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic Koko into law or the suspension of the bill. Our choice in the 2019 general elections will either lead to the gazetting and revival of the $5million vocational training centre Egbokodo that is in a sorry state or the continuous sorry state.

A glance at recent headlines should tell you that this moment is really different. The stakes are quite higher. The consequences of any of us sitting on the fence are more dire. It is not that we have not had big elections or made hard choices before but the fact is, our democracy has never been easy.
We need to examine carefully those who the results of the party primaries have made our candidates.

It is better to be anti-party than to be anti-Itsekiri. Political parties will come and go but the Itsekri Nation will remain.
We need to make real sacrifice if the Itsekiri Nation is to remain politically relevant in the next four years.

My dear compatriots, honestly these are not just extraordinary times but they are dangerous times. In less than two months we have the chance, to restore some semblance of sanity to our politics.

In 2018, I called on all Itsekiri Graduates to get their PVC ready, as we must not only have a say on who govern us but also participate in the electioneering process for a better Itsekiri Nation. The 2019 general elections will afford us the opportunity to do just that.

 DELTA SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT
It is public knowledge that it is the turn of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality to represent Delta South Senatorial district at the red chambers. With four Itsekiri candidates vying for the position our chances of producing the next Delta South Senator is bleak. With four Itsekiri candidates vying for this position, we have become a laughing stock to those we lobby to allow us have a shot at the Senatorial seat.

 After several consultations with different interest groups and critical stake holders, I cannot deny the fact that amongst the four Itsekiri candidates, the immediate past governor of Delta State His Excellency Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan stands a better chance to wrestle power from the incumbent Senator.

I wish to plead with all Itsekiris contesting for the position of Delta South Senatorial seat, all Itsekiri graduates, Itsekiri Students, Itsekiri youths, women groups, Itsekiri elders, Itsekiris all over the world, and the good people of Delta South Senatorial district to as a matter of national interest set aside personal ambitions, ethnic sentiments, and pecuniary gains to adopt Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan as their consensus candidate for Delta South Senatorial District.

My plea is premise on the fact that this election is our best chance yet to liberate the good people of Delta South Senatorial seat from the incumbent political “Mugabe” hence we should not allow our personal ambition to becloud our collective ambition.

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan with his wealth of experience as the immediate past governor of Delta State will bring his experience to bear on his job as the senator representing Delta South Senatorial district.

We want a Senator that can join hands with the member representing Warri Federal Constituency to influence the opening of the Warri Ports to Cargo, and commencement of the GRIP-EPZ Ogidigben projects. These two projects will guarantee over 300,000 permanent jobs for our graduates and youths. The recent rate of money ritual among our youths is not only alarming but a need to declare a "state of emergency" on these listed projects for the collective good of the people of Delta South Senatorial District.

 WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

The Warri Federal Constituency is also of paramount importance, as it is better we remain where we are or move forward than going backward. We need a federal representative who has the mental capacity, intellectual capacity, and political clout to bring to fruition various mega projects awaiting execution/completion in Warri Federal Constituency.

 OTHER CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS

I will also want to plead with our political leaders in Warri South-West to ensure that an Itsekiri man emerge as the person representing the good people of Warri South-West in the Delta State House of Assembly.
The Warri South Constituency II should go back to what it was in 1999.

GOD BLESS NAIG
GOD BLESS HIS MAJESTY OGIAME IKENWOLI
GOD BLESS WARRI KINGDOM

COMR. COLLINS ORITSETIMEYIN EDEMA
PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ITSEKIRI GRADUATES (NAIG)

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