By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT— ISOKOS in Delta State have expressed  serious worry over the non inclusion of their area in the 2010 budget of the newly created Niger Delta Ministry for Capital Projects. A communique  by former  Editor, Daily Times,  Chief John Araka and  ten other elders of Isoko, wondered why the area was ignored by the Ministry in its  budgetary projection for capital projects in the region.

Noting that Isoko is one of  the largest oil and gas onshore producing area in Delta State, they  urged President Goodluck Jonathan  to quickly step in to ensure that the area is included in the Ministry’s budget for the year.

They also enjoined those managing the Post Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government to enlist Isoko youths in the skill acquisition programme, saying this will reduce the challenges of unemployment and tension in the region.

“We appeal to Mr. President to direct those handling the Post Amnesty  Programme to include the youths of the Isoko nation in the skill acquisition schemes. This will help to reduce the alarming rate of unemployment in Isokoland and check a possible resurgence of violence in the region.”

The elders, who lamented what they termed political marginalisation of Isoko at the federal and state levels,  said at the moment, there are no concrete projects credited to the administration of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in their area.

“We express serious concern over the undeserved marginalisation of the Isoko nation in terms of infrastructure development by the Governor,” they added.

The elders  recalled that the area contributed immensely to the emergence of Emmanuel Uduaghan as Governor and wondered why it should be ignored by the administration in its development programmes

“All that Governor Uduaghan has fed our people with, in the past three years, is a bitter diet of endless promises of  “I will do this or I will do that for Isoko.”

According to the elders,  Isoko has not   had any ministerial or ambassadorial appointment since 1972, a situation they described as unfair.