By Jimitota Onoyume

WARRI—A proposal has been made for the Itsekiri nation to hold an all inclusive summit to discuss issues critical to its development.

Dr Jackson Ireyefoju, who made the call while speaking as guest lecturer at  the 10th anniversary lecture of Itsekiri Progress Club, IPC, in Warri, Delta State,  on Restoring the dignity of the Itsekiri nation, said the summit would  be attended by royals, chiefs and other prominent leaders to  evolve ways to resolve challenges impeding development in Itsekiri areas.

He enjoined IPC  with prominent Itsekiri leaders to revisit abandoned  public funded projects in Itsekiri communities.

“An Itsekiri summit of the royals, Omajaja and chiefs should be convened to discuss “The Odysey of Waste – a case for Itsekiri development. The IRDC’s 12 disciples and their master should appear to give account to the summit. Nigerian National Development Commission, NDDC, projects done and abandoned should be scrutinized and DESOPADEC projects in the kingdom may be touched.  The chairmen of DESOPADEC, past and present, should be invited to the summit.

“Silence of Itsekiri over the Itsekiri communal land trust money, IRDC, DESOPADEC, NDDC funds and their share of the amnesty money should be looked into by the Itsekiri Progress Club.

“The restoration of the dignity of Itsekiri nation needs a lot of compromise because much had gone wrong, but the present level of misuse of public funds may no longer be compromisable,”  he said.

Some prominent Itsekiri leaders at the event were former governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan,  member representing Warri federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Daniel Ireyeneju, Chief Otimeyin Adams, Chief Olivia Agbajor, Chief Wilifred Gbejule, Mr Lawrence Ukubenje, Dr Alex Ideh, Chief Adolor Okotieeboh  and many others.

In  his remarks, Chairman of the club, Engr Gbesimi Akperi, said it was formed years ago to unlock the Itsekiri potentials and promote development in Itsekiri communities.

He said the club had established an Itsekiri Education Trust that is  impacting on lives in education, adding that it was working on the “initiative for agriculture and rural development. We shall continue to build models which can be replicated by our people.”