Our attention and that of many other Okpoga cum Okpokwu youths have been drawn to a post, made on facebook by one, Cletus Emoche Agada with the title “Poor,Old Okpokwu!”. To say the least, the post is not only malicious and denigrating, but a collective affront on the sensibility of the Okpoga people and Okpokwu Local Government in general. Our history as Okpoga people, one of the three districts that make up Okpokwu, was greatly defamed, bastardized and skewed by the writer, in his bid to dabble into the ongoing political macabre dance, being performed by supporters of the State Governor, His Excellency, Rev Fr. Alia Hyacinth and the Member of House of Representatives, representing the Okpokwu/Ado/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Hon. Chief Philip Agbese (Okanga), a protégé of Senator Dr. George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
While we do not want to dissipate much energy on how the supposed faceoff between the two political leaders emanated, since we were never there, we will like to make our submissions as follows;
1. That except or otherwise, the Cletus Emoche Agada has had a personal encounter with the Okpoga people and was part of the so called murders, his assertions that “our people had murdered in cold blood, early white missionaries who came to the community to give the inhabitants a better life, and that the Okpoga people love captivity and would go extra mile to kill anyone with good intentions for them,” is unfounded, callous and capable of inciting the wrath of Ogwu’rube and the entire community against himself and his family.
2. That as a community, Okpoga has been out of power supply for a couple years and has faced neglect by politicians, saddled with the responsibility of bringing this basic amenity to the people. Despite being the council headquarters and the second largest district in Okpokwu, Okpoga has not benefitted the gift of a transformer from our political leaders; a gesture they readily extend to other communities in Idoma land, without batting an eyelid. It is not out of place therefore, for the community to demand such from the Governor, especially considering the fact that, it is also within his purview as the Governor, to bring such developments to the people.
3. That except or otherwise, the poster was part of the people who masterminded and produced the banner purportedly declaring Okpokwu a “No safe Zone” for the Honourable Member, he lacks the moral justification to accuse the Okpoga people of being the purveyors of the infamous banner and the message therein, since people who graced the occasion of the governor’s “Thank You” visit to Okpokwu, were drawn from the three districts that make up Okpokwu and other parts of the State.
4. That particularly singling out the Okpoga people for his vituperations and targeted insults, clearly shows that he lacks the knowledge and understanding of the political intrigues and power play in Okpokwu, who presently has an Edumoga Man and a Loyalist of the Governor as, Caretaker Chairman.
5. That for the interest Hon. Agbese has for the Okpoga people, he proposed the renovation of the dilapidated Okpoga Township Stadium, cited his constituency office in the community, in a property purportedly owned by the President General of Okpoga’s apex socio-cultural organization, Okpoga Development Community (ODC), Hon. Vincent Okoko Odoh, until recently when it was vandalized and looted in broad daylight by thugs believed to be loyal to another faction in his party, the APC. Till now, no son or daughter of Okpoga extraction has been arrested in connection to the mundane act. This goes further to show the solidarity the Okpoga people gave to Hon. Agbese and other APC Candidates, including the Governor, in the 2023 general elections. Hence, targeting them for any uncultured attack, just to score cheap political points, is barbaric.
6. That dragging the name of the entire Okpoga Community, to a political fight which we do not know the origin and where it will end, is not only immature and insensitive but condemnable. In politics they say, there is no permanent enemy or friend but permanent interest. If by tomorrow, the warring parties/factions reconcile or not, how does Cletus atone for the battering he has done to the image of the Okpoga people?
Our demands
1. From the strength of the foregoing, we demand that the author of the post, Cletus Emoche Agada takes down the malicious post and tender an unreserved public apology to the Okpoga people, on the same platform, where the post was made.
2. We wish to state that as Okpoga people, we are peace loving and will not want to be dragged into any political crossfire nor embark on any vendetta against any politician, as our votes during elections is enough to express our position at any given time. What we are interested in, is the development of our community, part of which is electrification. Hence, any political leader who is poised to empower our people and community, in any ramification, irrespective of political affiliations, should always count on our supports.
3. That henceforth, any write-up from Cletus or his co-travelers, targeted at, bringing the name of Okpoga Community to disrepute, will not be tolerated.
Signed;
(Dr.) Emmanuel Okpe Akor (Elvis Brow),
National President, Okpoga Unity Forum (OUF)
Comrade Omaga Elachi Daniel,
National Public Relations Officer, Okpoga Unity Forum (OUF)