By Justice Iyasere
LAGOS JULY (9TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The Otota of Udu Kingdom, Chief Sam Odibo has declared that as far as Udu LGA was concerned, the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, is moribund, dead and buried with forgotten obsequies, adding that for so many years running, the commission has not done anything for the people of the oil-rich Udu Local Government Area of the state.
Chief Sam Odibo made this remark during a visit to the Zonal Office of the Commission for the Commissioner representing the Ughelli South, Udu and part of Warri South Local Government Areas located at Ujevwu in Udu.
Addressing newsmen after two hours of waiting for a scheduled meeting with Chief Amos Itiwhe, the DESOPADEC commissioner, Chief Odibo disclosed that he led a cream of Udu leaders to the Zonal Office to inquire whether DESOPADEC died on arrival or after arrival in Udu, adding that the argument that Delta State is broke cannot stand as the state had always received her share of the 13% derivation from the federal government out of which 50% if for operation of DESOPADEC.
‘’The question we want to ask is this. Does it mean DESOPADEC does not receive its share of the 13% derivation as enshrined in the laws setting up the commission? How can it be broke to the extent of not executing a single project in Udu for over two years whereas fund accrues monthly to the commission? Even if DESOPADEC is unfortunate to get a ridiculous N200m a month for projects, Udu with her enormous oil and gas production quantum should at least be entitled to a borehole in a fiscal year. Why can’t a simple project be executed in Udu through DESOPADEC in the two years Chief Amos Itiwhe has been in the saddle as commissioner? These are the questions agitating the minds of the Udu people,’’ Chief Sam Odibo queried.
He lamented that DESOPADEC ought to be the closest agency of government to help drive development at the grassroot, stressing that with the failure of the commission to perform, government could not be said to be doing anything in Udu hence the need to hold a meeting with the commissioner to ask relevant questions and seek for answers. He emphasized that with the performance of the commission in the past two years, DESOPADEC could be termed moribund, dead and buried as far as Udu LGA was concerned.
Those with Chief Sam Odibo for the aborted meeting with Chief Itiwhe include Engr Mike Orugbo, Chief Steve Sokoh, President General, Union of Udu Communities; Chief William Riebelle, retired permanent secretary in the state civil service; Chief J.B Onoherhe, Deputy President General of Udu, Edafe Oghenekaro, Secretary, Udu Community and Ms Excellence Emuobo Miller.