KWALE/Nigeria: The Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU) has proposed a Delta North summit that would bring together ethnic nationalities and key stakeholders to discuss shared challenges and build stronger cooperation across the region.
The proposal was made by the President-General of the NNU, Chief Amechi Asugwuni, when the Aniocha/Oshimili Elders Association, popularly known as Izu-Ikei, paid a courtesy visit to the NNU executive committee at Ndokwa House in Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa West Local Government Area.
Asugwuni said the engagement was part of the broader need for neighbouring communities to move beyond occasional interactions and develop practical relationships around issues of common interest, peace and development.
He described the elders’ visit as an important step towards strengthening understanding between the Ndokwa people and their neighbours, saying the NNU welcomed engagements capable of promoting unity across Delta North.
“As an organisation, NNU believes strongly in unity, and such unity must be demonstrated through meaningful engagement and collaboration. Your visit today is a recognition of the Ndokwa Nation as a whole, and we deeply appreciate it,” he said.
The NNU leader said the union would commence consultations with major towns and stakeholders across Delta North to identify common concerns and explore areas where communities could work together.
He said the region had considerable experience and human resources that could be brought together to address challenges that transcend individual communities.
“We must bring our experiences from different fields to bear in solving our collective challenges. Delta North should begin to identify its common problems and utilise its shared values to promote progress and development,” Asugwuni said.
He also welcomed the request by the Aniocha/Oshimili elders for closer collaboration, saying the NNU would reciprocate the visit as part of efforts to build a stronger relationship between the two groups.
According to him, cooperation should extend beyond the immediate communities involved, with the seven ethnic nationalities in Delta State having an opportunity to develop a common platform for dialogue on issues affecting their people.
He therefore proposed a Delta North summit as an avenue for representatives of the various communities and stakeholders to engage one another directly.
“We support the convergence of all the seven ethnic nationalities in Delta State to chart a better course for our people. Let us begin with a Delta North summit that will provide a platform for dialogue, understanding and collective action,” he said.
Earlier, the leader of Izu-Ikei, Prince Clement Okonjo, said the association’s visit was aimed at strengthening relationships with other communities and promoting the collective interests of the Anioma people.
Okonjo said Izu-Ikei was established to promote peace, unity and the advancement of the people of Aniocha and Oshimili, adding that communities needed to be able to work together when issues of common interest arose.
“We are here to introduce ourselves as a registered organisation dedicated to promoting peace and unity. Whenever issues affect our people, we should be able to join hands to pursue common interests,” he said.
He expressed concern over what he described as insufficient progress in some areas of development and representation, arguing that greater cooperation among communities in Delta North would help in articulating and pursuing their interests more effectively.
Okonjo also stressed that the association was non-partisan and not affiliated with any political party, but would continue to engage on matters concerning the welfare and progress of the people.
“Our visit is to seek collaboration in our quest to build a united and progressive Anioma Nation. There is a need for stronger unity in Delta North so that issues affecting our people can be properly articulated and effectively addressed,” he said.
The meeting ended with both groups expressing readiness to sustain the engagement and explore practical areas of cooperation.
The proposed summit, if pursued, would provide a broader platform for communities across Delta North to discuss shared concerns, strengthen inter-community relationships and develop collective approaches to issues affecting the region.
