The Chief Executive Officer of Fone-Media Integrated Company, Publishers of Isoko Mirror, Comrade Felida Essi on Saturday said Isoko community leaders are the cause of the insecurity in their domains.
Comrade Essi spoke with Our Correspondent during the 15th anniversary, lectures & awards ceremony of the newspaper which held at the Isoko Development Union, IDU Hall in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to her, “The problem first of all is caused by the Community leaders. They sold and hired our lands to the herdsmen and that brings about insecurity.
“Of course, once the herdsmen come in, they want to take over. That’s part of the major problem and it’s caused by our leaders.
She also urged the leaders to shun the peanuts they make from the herdsmen to help safeguard the lives and property of their citizens.
Comrade Felida also enjoined the people to be hardworking and not to pursue politics alone but to go into farming.
According to her, “There is money in farming.”
Meanwhile, the publisher of Isoko Mirror Newspaper has said politicians wanted his medium to be a “Political Paper”.
Comrade Essi said, “But we refused. For that, they don’t patronize us.”
She said development has made it hard for the medium to hold its programmes in Isoko soil but in Warri.
The publisher disclosed that some politicians called some persons not to attend the 15th Anniversary/Lectures & Awards ceremony of the Newspaper in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State today Saturday, December 5.
She said the reason is,” Because we are not a political paper” just as she pointed out that the media establishment had always held its events in Warri.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of the event, Chief Joe Arausi, who noted the challenges in the business terrain urged Isoko politicians to support the Isoko Mirror Newspaper to survive stressing that, “this is the only paper that has created an identity for Isoko people. We should killing our local businesses in the name of politics.”
He also urged the publisher to continue to fly the Isoko flag.
Guest lecturer of the event, Miakpo Emiaso, a retired Judge of the Area Customary Court in Delta State eulogized Comrade Essi for her doggedness in the media industry.
He said, “Permit me to say a word or two about this unassuming Uzere nay Isoko amazon. A lady who carries herself with such humility despite the enormous powers and responsibilities she wields.
“I wonder most times where she got her skin from for being able to withstand the missiles and assaults regularly hauled at her for being who she is-publisher of a grassroots newspaper!
“She looks so ordinary and in fact, lives a lifestyle that is not anything else but ordinary. So ordinary that a very senior Isoko lawyer derided her in open court as a ” small girl and an ordinary okada publisher’ to which Felida just smiled while the court said, “how can you describe this woman as a small girl?
“Felida is that small girl who appeared on a list of 40 prominent Isoko citizens in Lagos as the second woman to establish Isoko newspaper in Lagos(Isoko Mirror).
“She is known in disseminating Isoko news across Nigeria and abroad. She has won many awards to her credit. She is from Uzere Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
“Today, on the records, I greet you Felida. You are a true and dogged Uzere and Isoko patriot! You are a champion in your chosen field. Your journalism passion is unsurpassed.
“Among Isoko women who have succeeded in breaking the glass ceiling, you rank high. I doff my hat for you for being an uncompromising true journalist who would not bend to the whims, undue influence and caprices of persons who represent anything but noble,” said Emiaso.
