By Emmanuel Ekebe
The leadership and people of Uzere Community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state have expressed dissatisfaction over their exclusion in the allocation of constituency projects by the member representing the Isoko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Pastor Jonathan Ukodhiko.
In a release signed by the President General, Chief Imoni Edward Onyagbodor and the Secretary General, Samuel Oluku, the Uzere people stated that: “the attention of the Uzere people has been drawn to a recent publication titled ‘Ukodhiko Performance Record Underscores Robust Lawmaking, Far Reaching Constituency Impact in Isoko’. authored by Dr. Nelson Egware, Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta state on Media.
According to the Uzere people, “in the viral publication, various wide ranging legislative, developmental and social interventions between 2023 and 2025 were listed.
“In the list, several Isoko Communities were mentioned as beneficiaries both in Isoko South and North which Pastor Jonathan Ukodhiko represents”.
Stating further their reservations, Uzere people however, noted that “while we do not begrudge those benefiting communities as outlined, we are shocked that Uzere, a foremost oil and gas producing community was conspicuously excluded in the distribution/location of the largesse by House of Representatives member.”
The Uzere people stated further that “the reason for the exclusion(s) remain unclear but on inquiry, we were told that Pastor Ukodhiko had attracted 45 street lights to Uzere as the constituency project.
“What a great slap and disserve”, the Uzere people quarried!
The Uzere leadership then emphasised that “let it be known that the Uzere people are more pained because records are still fresh that during the 2023 elections, Uzere had overwhelmingly voted for the PDP, the ruling party then where Ukodhiko was the flag bearer.”
The statement concluded that “…it is our hope that before the next round of elections, Pastor Ukodhiko and indeed all other elected and appointed Representatives; from the State House of Assembly to the Senate should ensure that Uzere people always get their fair share of the dividends of democracy without discrimination”.
Meanwhile all attempts to get Pastor Ukodhiko’s reaction to the Uzere people’s claim were all abortive as at the time of filing this report.
However, a close political associate of Pastor Jonathan Ukodhiko who requested not to be mentioned told us that “the man could have done certain things for the Uzere people that might not have been captured”
He stated further that he was aware “Ukodhiko sent some bags of rice to the Community this last Christmas.”
