VIEW POINT
OF IKA CHAPEL AND FOURTH ESTATE OF THE REALM.
By Charles Nwabardi
It was a Victorian writer, Thomas Carlyle who called the press, the “fourth Realm of the Estate”. By this, he meant that the press acted as a sort of watchdog of the Constitution and as such, formed a vital part of democratic government.
The belief is stemmed from the premise that newspapers, magazines and radio stations including the people who work for them are thought to have a lot of political influence.
The Ika Chapel is one of the Constituents of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists(NUJ), Delta State Council. The Ika Chapel comprises of all the registered journalists (both print and broadcasting) operating in Ika South in Ika North-East Local Governments of Delta State.
The nitty-gritty of this piece is that Ika Chapel has lived up to its responsibility as a fourth Estate of the Realm by cuing into the Platform already established by its parent Body, NUJ, Delta State Council.
The “NUJ Platform” is one of the watch-dog organs instituted to afford the Candidates of all the political parties in Delta State the platform to appear live and tell their Constituencies why and how to serve them. It is also an opportunity for those seeking for re-election to show their score cards.
It is a time to convince and woo expected voters for their votes. It is covered and broadcast in print and in electronic mass media. Moreover, it is a public service provided by NUJ free of charge.
The essence of this great and commendable initiative by the Delta State NUJ cannot be overemphasized. It has been done before by the State Council and Ika Chapel has done it again.
Prior to the day of the event, December, 12, 2022, letters of invitation were sent to the invited candidates. The letters carried the essence of the platform, venue, date and time. It is pertinent to mention here that IKa Grammar School, in Boji-Boji Owa was the venue and could easily be accessed.
In all, 12 candidates were invited. The House of Reps Candidates are: Rt. Hon. Victor Nwokolo PDP, Hon. Engr. Doris Uboh, APC, Me. Utomi Nwanne LP, Mr. Obi Obiajulu, ADC, Mr. Jude Amokwu, APGA, Mr. Onyetoniekwu Jeffery, LP.
Others were for State House of Assembly: Hon. Chukwuyem Okoh, PDP Ika South, Barr. Festus Ofume, APC, Ika South, Me. Jonathan Acha, LP, Ika South, Barr. Marylyn Okowa Daramola, DPP, Ika North-East, Sabastine Okoh, APC and Johnson Onaiwu Okumbor, APGA.
It was shocking that only two candidates honoured the invitation. They were, Barr. Festus Ofume, APC and Mr. Onyetoniekwu Jeffery, LP.
Barrister Festus Ofume, APC Candidate for Ika south who was the former YDP Delta State Chairman said that he is the best qualified Candidate to represent Ika South in the forth coming House of Assembly election as he called on Ika South people to vote wisely and vote him to give them selfless representation for them to enjoy the full dividends of democracy. He promised Ika South people adequate security, good welfare, empowerment, social security and better education.
Speaking, Mr. Onyetoniekwu Jeffery, LP candidate promised his people that he will not disappoint them as their representative in the Delta State House of Assembly. While soliciting for votes, he assured his people that he would not be a rubber stamp member in the House. He promised to sponsor a bill that will allow retirees to be receiving their basic salaries pending when their gratuities would be paid. He assured his people of good security and the abolishment of god-fatherism.
From the blatant absentism of those candidates that failed to honour the journalists’ invitation without cogent reasons, the inference that can be drawn is that they lack self confidence and still basking in the euphoria of trust in god-fatherism. It is wise to note that it is no longer as it used to be like in the past elections. The status-quo has been broken. Lots of political candidates will nash their teeth at the aftermath of the forthcoming general elections.
The time of empty candidates hiding under the umbrella of a political party is gone. Presently, voters look at candidates not political parties.
I wish Barr. Festus Ofume of APC House of Assembly Candidate a huge success in his political endeavour.
Also Mr. Onyetoniekwu Jeffery, LP Candidate as continue in the journey of being in the Delta State House of Assembly, your Constituency shall vote you in and you shall not disappoint them.
Furthermore, the Ika Chapel under the leadership of Comrade Christian Ogoh must be commended for taking the bull by the horns and putting their resources together in order to pave the way for government of the people, by the people for the people.