By SONY NEME

Professor Steve Okecha, Special Adviser on Technical Education to the Minister of Education recently launched a book titled ‘’Now l Know My People’: A Commentary on the Ndokwa Nation. Prof Okecha, former lecturer, Ahmadu Bello University and an astute university administrator brought his vast experience as a widely travelled scholar of international repute to bear at the double honours on the day he also laid bare “away with the Oligarchs – a hard knock on oppressors of the people in whatever guise.

The event took place at St George’s Grammar School hall, Obinomba, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State. It was a day that also provided a platform where Okecha’s contributions as a member of Conference of Ethnic Nationalities of Niger Delta, CENND, was appreciated and commended.

Educated at Government College, Ughelli, Delta State, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State and University of Uppsala, Sweden, Okecha, said the launch is a continuation of his crusade for the emancipation of Ndokwa people.  Prof Jeff Mokolia,  Head, Dept of Language and Linguistics, Delta State University , Abraka reviewed the book.

Reviewing the book, Mokolia remarked that , Okecha, a versatile chemist, environmental activist and poet  explained that for over 30 years he has been physically, emotionally, visibly and through over 60 lectures, several pamphlets and books involved in the crusade, preaching sermons on related issues to make his people contribute to the development of Nigerian nation state.

“Is worth reading as it is enticing and entertaining, should be an eye opener for the people and outsiders”.  He said.

The book , the reviewer equally pointed out, reviews the intrigues that trail recentleadership, chieftaincy institution, government insensitivity, fundamental human rights vis-à-vis Obiaruku Massacre, sharing of government amenities among other issues in Ndokwa land and Delta State in general.

According to Okecha,  the idea of writing the book was conceived on 26 December 2009 when a group named Ndokwa Leaders of Thought met in Kwale to dissolve the executive of the Ndokwa National Union, NNU, under his leadership.

He expressed shock as those who purportedly dissolved it were not bonafide members of the NNU, just as it was only the secretary of the NNU that was at the meeting.

“The group constituted a care taker committee under the leadership of Engr Toni Ezeukwu to oversee the affairs of the NNU. Of course, my executive saw the so called dissolution as the joke of the year.

“Two days after, 28 December 2009, Ezeukwu, Madam Mary Chukwuma and another man visited me at my Obiaruku residence, strangely to pledge their loyalty to me as their leader. They said l should regard them as my children.” He said.

Okecha was not alone in the thunderbolts that stroke the event venue. First to speak was the chairman of the day, Chief Solomon Asemota, SAN who said Ndokwa people are not alone in need of a direction, but the entire populace.

Chief Asemota, National Co- coordinator, Ethnics Nationalities Movement, ENM, added that , “It was my belief that we need, in addition to helping our individual nationalities discover their lost glories, assist in helping to revamp the psyche of our people generally because it is not only Ndokwa people that need the revamping but all Nigerians”.