Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s Senatorial Ambition: The Choice Before the Rest of US

 

By Felix Osemwengie Isere, Esq.

In my nearly nine months in office as Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil and Gas, I have come face to face with a reality that is both painful and deeply unsettling. Although my tenure was short, I remain sincerely grateful to the Governor for the opportunity, as it gave me first-hand exposure to critical issues affecting Edo State and our people; insights no classroom, textbook, or age could have provided.

I have seen, up close, how Edo State, particularly Edo South, continues to be shortchanged, marginalized, and systematically denied its rightful place in decisions that directly affect our resources, our future, and our people. A major part of this challenge is the absence of strong representation at the national level to defend our interests.

What troubles me most is not only what we are losing, but how quietly we are losing it.

We have lost our rightful voice, watching critical decisions about our destiny made at the national level without our presence or influence.

We have lost control over our God-given resources, while others continue to benefit from what rightfully belongs to our land.

We have lost opportunities, jobs, infrastructure, and economic growth that should have transformed our communities.

We have lost the dignity of our host communities, who bear the burden of exploration yet remain neglected and underdeveloped.

And perhaps most painfully, we have lost our unity, allowing division and narrow interests to weaken our collective strength.

Within the limits of my office, I made genuine and strategic efforts to engage exploration companies and key stakeholders in pursuit of fairness and justice for our people. However, these efforts were met with resistance, consequences, or even sabotage by those with vested interests.

Today, it is evident that Delta State has secured significant advantages in oil and gas assets, largely because they have strong representation at the national level actively defending their interests.

These experiences have left a lasting impression on me. In fact, it has traumatized me. They have revealed how vulnerable we are without strong, courageous, and strategic representation at the national level.

Yet, even in the midst of this reality, I find a renewed sense of hope.

The senatorial ambition of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu comes at a critical moment in our history. This is not merely a political aspiration; it is an opportunity ; an opportunity to restore our voice, defend our interests, and reposition Edo South where it rightfully belongs.

At a time like this, we need more than representation. We need a strong voice that is bold, influential, strategic, and unyielding in the face of adversity. A voice that understands the stakes and is prepared to confront them head-on.

This is why this ambition must rise beyond personal pursuit. It must become a collective cause we all own and defend.

Every son and daughter of Edo South who believes in justice, fairness, and the future of our people must see this as a defining moment.

A moment to stand together.

A moment to rise above division.

A moment to reclaim what is ours.

A moment to protect our dignity and the true sons and daughters of IGODOMIGODO.

We cannot continue to watch as others take advantage of our silence and disunity. We cannot afford to remain on the sidelines while our resources, our relevance, and our dignity slip away.

The time to act is now.

In the coming days, I will share more detailed accounts of my experiences grounded in facts to further illuminate the realities we face and why this moment demands urgent and collective action.

History will judge us not by what we endured, but by what we chose to do when it mattered most.

I RISE.

Felix Osemwengie Isere, Esq.

Executive Director,

Green House Africa Energy Initiative (GAEI-AFRICA) and the former Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Oil and Gas matters writes from London