Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborewori, has reaffirmed his commitment to non-interference in the affairs of the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
The governor gave the clarification, Wednesday, November 27, 2024, in response to concerns raised by the President-General of the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), Brigadier General Mike Ndubisi (Rtd.), over the perceived lack of developmental projects in the Ndokwa region under the leadership of DESOPADEC’s Managing Director, Festus Ochonogor.
Addressing the issue, Governor Oborewori urged the Ndokwa people to engage directly with their representatives in DESOPADEC.
“On the issue of DESOPADEC, I don’t interfere with what they do. You have the Managing Director. So you sit with your son and say, ‘Look, this is what we want.’ Ordinarily, we have the commissioners representing the ethnic nationalities and also the Executive Directors, and you have the MD,” he said.
The governor stressed that DESOPADEC representatives, including the MD, are appointed to serve the interests of their communities.
“The ethnic nationalities have a budget. In that budget, they look at what is more important to their people, and that is what they put there. They are not representing themselves; they are sent there to represent the ethnic nationalities. If those representing your ethnic nationalities are not doing well, call them, because other ethnic nationalities have their own interests,” Oborewori stated.
He also highlighted the unprecedented appointments of Ndokwa indigenes to key positions in his administration. “Since you have the Deputy Governor, you have the MD, you have the Commissioner of Finance, your Commissioner, and others, your ethnic nationality should not lack. You should also be praising us for giving these key positions to the Ndokwa nation because the Ndokwa nation has never had it this good. This is the first time,” the governor added.
Governor Oborewori assured the NNU of his support and promised to convey their concerns to DESOPADEC’s leadership. “When the MD comes, I will also tell him, ‘Look, your people want to sit with you and know what you have for them.’ DESOPADEC is strictly for oil-producing communities, so they must follow their mandates and guidelines,” the governor stated.
Speaking earlier, NNU President General, Brigadier General Mike Ndubisi, acknowledged the historic appointment of an Ndokwa indigene as DESOPADEC Managing Director but lamented the absence of tangible development in the region.
“We are grateful for keeping pace with the rotational principle of the headship of DESOPADEC as an Ndokwa son is today the MD of the interventionist agency for the first time since its creation. Hence, the appointment receives a standing ovation throughout our ethnic nationality,” Ndubisi said.
He however expressed dissatisfaction with the agency’s output, saying, “Apart from the monthly stipends being given to some privileged youths, there is no visible evidence of the presence of DESOPADEC in the Ndokwa nation. Please, sir, the Ndokwa nation pleads with you to direct the DESOPADEC MD to bring massive development to Ndokwa land, most likely as his predecessors from other ethnic nationalities did during their tenure.”