The Asagba of Asaba, Asagba (Prof.) Chike Edozien, has
described zoning as a necessary arrangement to ensure the equitable
distribution of developmental dividends and the achievement of a power rotation
balance amongst contending ethnic nationalities, even as he added that the
advocacy for the actualization of Anioma state was still waxing very strong.
The revered Monarch made these assertions, when he played
host to the Anioma Media Network, a Pan-Anioma media association, during a
courtesy call to His Royal Majesty on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, in his Palace,
in Asaba.
Speaking further, the Asagba noted that he was initially an
advocate for fair competition amongst contending interests, which would
ultimately produce the best candidate, no matter the ethnic coloration, but had
become convinced of the necessity for zoning, since what makes up the Delta
state of today was still an amalgamation of ethnic nationalities and there was
the need to zone political power to ensure that the development of all the parts
was evenly distributed and achieved across the state.
The Asagba said that the main desire of the Aniomas was to
achieve the actualization of Anioma state as this would give the Anioma nation
the opportunity to develop at its own pace and also preserve its languages as
well as the traditional and cultural essence of the people, but since this
agitation was yet to be achieved, the next logical objective was to stake a
proper claim for the governorship of Delta State, especially since both
Delta Central and Delta South have already done the mandatory two terms
allowed by the constitution.
The Asaba Monarch was however quick to point out that, while
Anioma had the right to seek the governorship in 2015, the challenge for the
Aniomas was to work in harmony with other ethnic nationalities in the state, to
produce an Anioma person who was acceptable and admired by all Deltans, as a
candidate that would represent all interest and carry everybody along.
He affirmed that a process had already been put in place by the
Anioma Congress, a pan-Anioma interest group, to identify the likely candidates
along a set of specific guidelines, who would then be presented to the rest of
Delta for an assessment, consultation and negotiation process that would
eventually select the best person who was acceptable to all, as the Anioma
choice for 2015 governorship.
Asagba (Prof.) Edozien also used the forum of the courtesy
visit to urge the media, particularly owners of private print media and
Newspapers, who were of Anioma extraction, to uphold the ethics of
investigative journalism before publishing their stories.
He noted that the Nigerians have imbibed a culture of
believing what they read in Newspapers and this has placed a major
responsibility on owners of private Newspapers to always investigate their
stories properly before publication, instead of publishing falsehood and
unfounded propaganda which had the potential of damaging the image and
reputation of those so libeled.
The Asagba then hailed the initiative to set up the Anioma
Media Network with its pan-Anioma agenda and charged the group to remain
steadfast in it’s objective to promote and celebrate Anioma interests, even as
he assured the group of his maximum support and that of the Palace in all their
endeavours, adding that all media outfits of Anioma extraction must ensure that
the Anioma interest is always highlighted in all their publications and
activities.
Earlier in his address, the leader of the delegation and
National President of the Anioma Media Network, Mr. David Diai, had informed
the Asagba of Asaba that the group had come to introduce itself to the revered
Monarch and seek his royal blessings, on their efforts and activities to
promote and celebrate Anioma in his domain.
Mr. Diai applauded the leadership role the Asagba has been
playing in the advocacy for the actualization of Anioma state and the emergence
of an Anioma governor in 2015 and affirmed that the group was already attuned
to the inspirational vision of the Anioma Congress in this regard.
He then pledged that the Anioma Media Network would not
deviate from its mandate of promoting and celebrating the Anioma interest and
assured His Royal Majesty that the group had already tasked its members on the
need to obey the ethics of proper journalism, even as efforts were been made to
reach out to other Anioma owned media establishments to promote the Anioma
essence positively in their publications.
In attendance at the meeting were the Iyase of Asaba, Chief
PIG Onyeaobi, the Olikeze of Asaba, Chief Iloba as well as other senior chiefs
in the Palace.
The Anioma Media Network delegation included, Elder Joe
Onyibe, (Vice President), Patrick Ochei, (Sec), Dr. Dike Awana (Treasurer), Ike
Abiagom, (PRO), and Charles Umejei (Special Projects Cordinator).
Others were Nneka Ozegbe (Special Projects Cordinator), Elder
Chuks Abiandu (Elders C’ttee) Tony Okwunebe (Ndokwa/Ukwuani co-ordinator) and
Nnadi Odiwe (Oshimili South Cordinator).
No comments:
Post a Comment