Itsekiri groups vow to shut down DESOPADEC over Urhobo domination

As Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa grapple with litigation over his election, strong indications emerged Sunday October 25 that the governor's battles may be compounded as a coalition of Itsekiri groups under the auspices of Itsekiri Joint Action Group, IJAG, have vowed to shut down activities of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC over their perceived marginalization by the commission.

IJAG which comprises of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, National Association of Itsekiri Students, NAIS, Warri Social Development Association, WASDA, Iwere Development Association, IDA, Host Communities of Nigeria, Producing Oil & Gas (Itsekiri Chapter)and other stakeholders in a Press Statement released in Warri gave the Delta State government and DESOPADEC a seven day ultimatum, beginning from Sunday October 25,2015 to address the unfair and inequitable distribution of development projects in the oil producing areas of the state against the law setting up the commission which stipulates that issues of employment, project distribution and appointments be based on quantum of oil produced by each ethnic nationality.

The statement which was signed by IJAG's Co-coordinator, Prince O.H Tuoyo, Secretary, Comrade Gift Iwere Odobiken and six others averred that Urhobo Nation currently has 1,345 staff, making up 45.47 % of the commission's workforce, while Itsekiri Nation has 655 staff in the commission, leaving Ijaw, Ndokwa, Isoko and others to make up the remaining percentage despite the fact that Itsekiri ethnic Nationality produces 29 % of the quantum of crude oil in the state, leaving the Urhobo ethnic Nationality with just 22% after Ijaw Nation which boasts of 27%.

While noting that the marginalization got to a head recently when the present board of DESOPADEC redeployed an Itsekiri man from the position of Head of Security to pave the way for someone from another tribe, IJAG declared that it was compelled to issue the ultimatum after all entreaties to the state government failed.

They placed a 7-point demand which includes funding of the commission with 100% derivation funds from the Federal Government, employing more Itsekiris "to reflect the agreed 29% ",the activation of the overseas scholarships hitherto suspended alongside the release of bursary for all Itsekiri students in tertiary institutions, removal of the part-time element in the appointment of ethnic representatives at the DESOPADEC board as well as the proper funding of Office of Chairman of the Commission so as to avert imminent showdown from Monday November 2,2015.

×