By Efe Onodjae

A respected chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta State and an Izu Anioma activist, Mr Philip Elueme, has urged illustrious sons and daughters of Anioma descent to support an ongoing plan to honour Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, for the positives he represents in the annals of Anioma nation, noting that the plan is in tandem with the principles of the founders of Anioma identity political establishment since 1956 right from the old Western Region to date.

Elueme, in a statement issued in furtherance of the commemoration of the late Senator Peter Nwaoboshi said, historically, the fathers of Anioma Nation stood and are still standing on the principles of standing solidly behind State executives who distinguished themselves in orchestrating good leadership and harmonious relationships in the state, saying Governor Oborevwori has long proven beyond rhetorics a track records of performance particularly in bringing unity, peace, massive human and material developments in the state through his new knowledge economy compatible More Agenda policy.

While extolling the virtues of the late senator cum former Deputy Governor of Delta State, the statement says the leadership of Anioma Nation as it stands presently, pragmatically rests squarely on the shoulders of the former Governor (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, the Ekwueme, who he described as a strategic critical stakeholder and the first among equals.

“Based on knowledge management principles auditing the intellectual assets of Anioma Nation past corporate identity politics leadership public policy strategies as the Chief Philip Asiodu/ late Sir Fortune Ebie report of the year 2003 made by 29 prominent sons of Anioma earlier established to unite Anioma towards maintaining optimum result oriented ‘public diplomacy’ with serving governors, as implemented for – His Excellencies Uduaghan cum Okowa, I beseech Anioma Nation under our able traditional rulers cum leaderships of our corporate pressure groups executives, etc, to honour Gov Sheriff Oborevwori Asap with a resounding public carnival ceremony to be held at the Cenotaph Asaba as approved by our Royal father’s cum corporate executive leadership’s supported by Anioma political class, and stakeholders.

“As an Izu Anioma Nation top-notch activist I implore all Ndi Anioima stakeholders and leaderships of Izu Anioma, Anioma Congress, Ofaac, Onu Ika, Ndokwa Nekwu NNU, etc, to honour the memory of the late Sen Peter Nwaoboshi who was the dominant force with other leaders too numerous to mention that ‘co-ordinated’ the Anioma Salute Uduaghan and Aniomas celebrate Gov Okowa earlier ‘solidarities,’ outings of 2010 and 2018 years respectively by coming together ones again to extend Aniomas usual public show of appreciation to our current Governor of Delta state Elder Sheriff Oborevwori as Aniomas extended to other Delta state governors from Delta south and Delta North senatorial zones in the spirit of late Sen Peter Nwaoboshi equity mantra so as to motivate Gov Oborevwori to continue delivering the dividends of democracy sustainably.

“This occasion will equally avail all Aniomas the opportunity to reflect on areas that needs improvement in the governance of the state by presenting it to our governor for his kind attention for the smooth delivery of the dividends of Democracy.

“I also call on our traditional institutions in Anioma – traditional rulers, political leaders, leaders of thought, youths and women groups, sub national and town union leadership’s even extending to the diaspora, etc, to join forces in a collaborative synergy to replicate the past events earlier organized by Aniomas for Gov Uduaghan in 2010, and Gov Okowa in 2018,” he stated.

Elueme said, “Going down memory lane, in the year 2009, July specifically based on the influence of the special committee report produced by legendary economist Chief Philip Asiodu chaired Izu Anioma committee of 29 prominent sons drawn from Onu Ika, NNU, Onu Anioma, Anyi bu ofu, Odu Omah, Otu Nmuta, Anioma 50, etc, pressure group representatives with icons like the late Sir Fortune Ebie as Chief Philip Asiodu’s vice chairman, with four Anioma Professors – Edozien, Utomi, Chiekwe, etc; four Anioma Military Generals – Okija, Usiade, Chijuka, and many more, brilliant Anioma patriotic minds like Ogbechie, Ochonogor, Alban Ofili Okonkwo who recommended the use of soft power diplomacy as an enlightened civilized strategy to secure the goodwill at any time sustainably of any sitting Governor of Delta state for the developmental glory of Anioma land optimally managed dexterously … I Philip Elueme, as the then political adviser to Izu Anioma leadership under Col Okwechime cum the mentorship and directives of late Chief Barr Peter Nwaoboshi, etc, as state chairman of PDP, wrote a 30-paged document in that Chief Asiodu led committee spirit soliciting for the honouring of the then state Governor His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, an event that held successfully at Cenotaph Asaba on the 4th of April, 2010.

“A similar strategic approach was utilized to honour His Excellency Dr Ifeanyi Okowa in April 2018 in a lavish public ceremony held at Cenotaph Asaba with pomp and pageantry!

“Indeed our Izu Anioma NEC executives, loosely stated, comprising mostly Advisers to the then President Col Nduka Mike Okwechime had in a high powered meeting held at the Izu Anioma National headquarters Asaba from August 2009, unanimously approved my recommendations and subsequently appointed me as the secretary organising committee with the late statesman former LGA council chairman of Oshimili South LGA, Chief Uso Onianwa, JP, Ozah Okita Asaba, as the chairman organising committee.

“Brig Gen Chijuka as the then Secretary Izu Anioma under Col Nduka Mike Okwechime kept or wrote the minutes with his assistant secretary late Chief Awele Nwaezeigwe, former council Chairman of old Oshimili LGA on the day Izu Anioma NEC ‘working committee’ approved the holding of this carnival for the then Gov Emmanuel Uduaghan.

“History beacons on all patriotic Ndi Anioma men and women of goodwill to extend a similar feat of public appreciation to Elder Sheriff Oborevwori for his laudable More Agenda policy initiatives, while we utilize this ‘grandiose’ soft power lobbyists, public diplomacy strategy to request for more goodies for our Ika, Aniocha/ Oshimili, and Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituencies after auditing the outstanding legitimate developmental requests from our sub national pressure groups, town unions, traditional rulers, leaders of thoughts and political leaders, etc, as the need arises.

“We beseech our revered Anioma traditional cum pressure group/ political leaders and Representatives – councillors past and present, LGA chairmen past and present, House of Assembly members and Federal reps past and present, senators past and present, commissioners, board chairmen and members past and present; indeed all Men and women, including pressure groups, clubs, women and youths, of goodwill in Anioma extending to the diaspora to stand to be counted in participating actively in this grand carnival reception in honour of our ‘Ukodo’ More Agenda, New knowledge economy society compatible Excellency Elder Sheriff…

“Indeed, “the trees and grasses in Anioma land and beyond will stand to be counted, they will all shake joyously” [ apologies late Dr K.O Mbadiwe ] beyond humans in appreciation of our esteemed Delta state Governor on a date to be fixed after due consultations which will begin in essence,” Elueme stated, as he called on all Anioma sons and daughters to keep a date with its leaders.