Intervention by DSS, averts planned protest by DESOPADEC contractors

Members of DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors' Forum, have suspended their protest, earlier scheduled for this Friday, January 24, following intervention by the Department of State Services, DSS, Fresh Angle International has learned.      

The suspension, was after the Forum, reportedly presented verifiable documents of their demands to the Secret Police.

It was gathered that the undercover agents invited the leadership of the Forum to a meeting on Tuesday to resolve the crisis between the contractors and the Interventionist agency which the Chief Security Officer of DESOPADEC, Mr. Galvin Ugbome attended.

After looking into the presentations of the DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum incontrovertible documents and exchanges with the management of the agency in the presence of Mr. Ugbome, it was resolved that the contractors should meet with the management and find an amicable resolution.

In appreciation of the outcome of the meeting and respect for the DSS, the DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors decided to suspend the planned protest to respect the decision of the undercover agency and the fact that the grievances was not targeted at the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as being insinuated by some undesirable elements within the system.

Chairman of DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum, Ogie Samson Oritsebemigho and his Secretary, Prince Charles Ebigbagha told reporters last night that the issue would be resolved with the intervention of the DSS.

They however decried attempts by some unscrupulous people alleging that the leadership of the Chairman and Secretary of the Forum, Messrs Ogie Samson Oritsebemigho and Prince Charles Ebigbagha had been suspended by members of the group which they attributed to some uneducated elements working to sabotage thier grievances.

Ogie said he was not surprised that various publications were made, including those that called themselves Concerned Contractors and self styled Hostcom, where they alleged division and suspension of the leadership of the forum.

He advised that blackmailers should get a job and register as contractors to better and encourage younger generations because DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors are investors and not people with disordered mentality.

"Going through those publications, you will see the emptiness and intelligence of those behind them. They were so daft. In one instance, they claimed there was faction within the group and in another, they said the Chairman and Secretary had been suspended. How can you suspend someone that you are not in the same faction with? DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum are decent and organised people in Delta State Oil rich region without faction. 

"Those who issued the statement that I and the Secretary have been suspended are unknown to us with proof. That's why they don't know how a group or association operates. As for those fake named representatives of various ethnic groups that placed advert in a national newspaper, they are unknown and unregistered, we forgive them. They are tools working for undesirable elements that doesn't want justice and development which shows that their mindset is based on conflict as a source of income. They must have done that for a pittance. We pity them, " Ogie said.

The Forum Chairman assured the Governor, His Excellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, that his members were not antagonising him but needed his intervention over the crisis, which has been lingering before his assumption into office.

"We know His Excellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori to be a listening leader and one that wants to make a mark. We are part of his plan to succeed, but it seems there are some people attracting negative things to his administration. 

"He should not listen to the sycophants. We want him to investigate our grievances and find out the truth. He will discover that we meant well. We want people to see his achievements in the riverine communities which is our mandate areas", he added.

Secretary of the Forum, Prince Charles Ebigbagha said he was happy that the trusted DSS intervened and are doing justice into their grievances after presentation of several documents that they were not against the Governor, His Excellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori but highlighting the plights of their members.

He said the grievances started a long time ago, at least more than threes years now but yet the problems have not been resoled adding "How come those undesirable elements now saying we are fighting the Governor?.

Ebigbagha assured that the members were not fighting him noting that the agitation started before his emergence as the Governor of the state and thereby pleaded with him to intervene since. We have every reasons to protest and we expect that the needful be done as expected in order to enhance peaceful relationship because Indigenous Contractors are part of the reasons DESOPADEC is existing.

×