IMPUNITY, ROT, THE CAN OF WORMS IN DESOPADEC 2016 BUDGET

 11^th May, 2016

His Excellency,

Sen (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, CON

The Executive Governor of Delta State,

Government House,

Asaba

Your Excellency,

We have seen the publication at pages 42 and 43 of the Vanguard of May 2, 2016, under the aegis of a hitherto known “Disciples”, now hurriedly rebranded for falsehood as ITSEKIRI DESOPADEC MANDATE INITIATIVE titled “THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH DESOPADEC BUDGET 2016” and another by Oboghoro/Utonlila Communities, published at page 44 of the Vanguard of Wednesday May 4, 2016, titled RE: DESOPADEC APPROPRIATION BILL 2016, ITSEKIRI LEADERS OF THOUGHT AND THEIR COHORTS SHOULD LEAVE OBOGHORO/UTONLILA COMMUNITIES AND DESOPADEC BOARD ALONE.

2. Our initial reaction was to ignore both publications for the following reasons:

i. The signatories to the so-called ITSEKIRI DESOPADEC MANDATE INITIATIVE are faceless; as the names there are fictitious. Its address (KM 5, NPA Expressway, Warri, Delta State) is the office address of one of the Itsekiris on the Board of DESOPADEC and one of the “Disciples”

ii. Both publications are sponsored by some Itsekiri members of the Board of DESOPADEC and their agents who are beneficiaries of the malfeasance in the Commission.

3. We stand by our earlier position. All that we said in that publication represent the true position.

4. The following facts are not disputed in either publication:

i. Two (2) of the five (5) star projects directed by Governor Okowa to be commissioned within a year, are located in one community where the Chairman and another Board member hail from.

ii. Another is sited where the Chairman has huge multi million naira oil business interest, whose source of funding is aggravated speculation as to whether his Asset Declaration to the authority is specific on it?

iii. All the projects are lumped in marginal areas in just one of the three (3) Local Government Areas.

5. The reasons given for this anomaly is the need to develop the communities, neglected over the years and that it is the prerogative of the Chairman to choose where to site the projects. Non-sense, and here we would make their reasons look awkward and ridiculous.

6. The Chairman of DESOPADEC was the immediate past “elected” Local Government Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area. All these communities he described as neglected in the past are all in Warri North Local Government Area, and he did nothing to uplift them, and now he is using his own failure as an instrument of blackmail to do an obviously wrong thing. His vast oil business (with its ensemble of jetty and a good number of off-shore ocean-going vessels) has got people asking whether he possessed them before or after his three (3) years’ chairmanship of Warri North LGA position. For emphasis, what does his formal Asset Declaration before taking the chairmanship say on these possessions?

7. The question is not whether these communities are Itsekiri but is it fair to all concerned that these five star projects meant for Itsekiri are hijacked for personal interest of Board members? Is Oboghoro/Utonlila Community more neglected than Omadino, Ugborodo, Tisun, Tebu, Bateren and Deghele Communities that are leading oil & gas producers?

8. The driving force here is not the desire to develop Utonlila/Oboghoro or Obite-Ugbo Communities. It is more than that. As the saying goes, it is not kindness that makes the hippopotamus to open its mouth for the river birds to peck at, but the need for its own clean mouth.

9. VAGUE AND OVER-BLOWN BUDGET COST:

The value of the projects is over-blown, outlandish and unreasonable. For example:

I. The number of units of the 2-Bedroom cluster houses at Utonlila/Oboghoro for which N361, 257,119.00 (Three Hundred and Sixty One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Nineteen Naira) is budgeted is not stated.

ii. The sum of N400million (Four Hundred Million Naira) for a 2Km Road is outrageous. We wonder whether the road is to be made with gold.

10. When will DESOPADEC move away from its historical model of corruption practiced over the years?

11. Again, we call on the Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to be wary of those who want to thwart his well-meaning intention. The directive to have five (5) major projects in each of the five (5) ethnic nationalities of DESOPADEC was at a cost to the Governor. He mustn’t allow certain individuals to rubbish his good name and intention. He must be steadfast and take the bull by the horn by putting a halt to the impunity, corruption and high-handedness in DESOPADEC.

12. Finally, Mr. Governor, you have put your hands on the plough; no looking back. The can of worms is now open in DESOPADEC – the castle of corruption in the state. There is the burning issue of a missing N65billion being an unremitted sum of the 50% of the 13% derivation fund of DESOPADEC meant for the Itsekiri ethnic nationality as at last year. Open the can of worms wider and use this fund for the development of Itsekiri land. Itsekiri are worried and want their money now.

Signed for and on behalf of the Committee of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought. (ILOT)

EDWARD EKPOKO, ESQ.                                       A. S. MENE

(Secretary)                                                                 (Member)

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