By Daniel Gumm

WARRI—THE National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to use the interlude provided by the six weeks postponement of the general elections, originally billed for February 14 and 28, to perform the groundbreaking of the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, in Delta State.

NAIG, led by Alero Tenumah, in a statement in Warri, Delta State, noted that “in as much as the polls’ postponement came as a surprise despite earlier claims by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that it was ready for the conduct of the elections, Itsekiri graduates across the globe would be delighted to see President Jonathan fulfill his promise to the Olu of Warri by coming to perform the EPZ ground-breaking early March before the eagerly anticipated polls.”

According to NAIG, “postponement of the polls by INEC has created enough time for the Minister of Petroleum and the Delta State Government, in concert with the Presidency, to work out a feasible date between now and early March for the ground-breaking which has suffered two postponements.”

NAIG, in the statement, also appealed to Itsekiri leaders to pick a credible candidate among the four Itsekiri sons vying for the Delta South senatorial district seat, so as to boost the chances of Itsekiri producing the next senator to represent Delta South at the National Assembly, insisting that it was the turn of Itsekiri nation to produce the next senator based on the rotational agreement of single tenure each among Itsekiri, Ijaw and Isoko of Delta South.

Jonathan had told the Olu of Warri and members of the Warri Council of Chiefs during a private visit in Warri, that he would perform the EPZ ground-breaking early March after the polls earlier fixed for February would have been concluded, hinging his promise on hectic campaign schedule.