-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):
The Managing Director/CEO of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Bashorun Askia Ogieh (FCNA,CrFA) has assured the Isoko nation that the Commission will engage in legacy projects as part of the infrastructure and human capital development agenda of His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for DESOPADEC.
The MD/CEO Bashorun Askia Ogieh made the promise during the Mid Year ISOKO conference and DESOPADEC TOWN HALL MEETING with Stakeholders held at the Isoko Development Union (IDU) secretariat in Oleh on Monday, 09, 2019.
At the well attended meeting, each Clan in Isoko had three representative each of the Traditional Rulers, Presidents General and their secretaries across Isoko land respectively who brought their inputs into the forthcoming 2019/2020 DESOPADEC proposed budgets for the oil producing communities.
Bashorun Askia emphasised that “Governor Okowa is interested in some legacy projects that he can personally commission to show that we have changed from DESOPADEC of old to that of present because we have actually rebranded and we have gone through all the rebranding processes.”
Bashorun Askia who was accompanied by Executive Directors, Commissioneed and key staff of the Commission, revealed that the budgeting system of DESOPADEC which is in two fold, the centralized project (legacy) and the ethnic nationality project, would ensure that all very areas are carefully tackled in the ensuing process.
He urged the President General of IDU, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, to make the compedium of list of the projects available as “We intend to start a proper budget process after meeting with all the ethnic nationalities that make up the mandate areas as enshrined in the law establishing DESOPADEC. “
He also expressed hope that the Presidents General have consulted adequately with the people in their various communities and with relevant inputs from the traditional rulers, so that government will implement the wishes of the people.
He said that Governor Okowa had emphasized on infrastructure and human capital development in the mandate areas, assuring that relevant departments at DESOPADEC will look into issues raised during the interactive session.
Although he emphasized that funds accruing to the Commission are limited, he promised that the 14 percent due to Isoko people will be given to the Isoko nation, saying that every Isoko clan will be carried along in DESOPADEC plan to ensure that all the communities are touched.
According to him, “We are not there for ourselves but to serve you.”
On Umeh road, he directed the Executive Director Project to embark on a site inspection to ascertain the scope of work to be done as he pledged to make it a legacy project.
On the demand for the review of scope of all old and existing projects and their designs, he said DESOPADEC will interface with IDU to identify the projects.
While assuring that all ongoing projects earlier embarked upon by DESOPADEC will be completed, he said that “As an approach, we have agreed that 60 percent of every of our projects will be devoted to ongoing projects while 40 percent will go for the new ones.”
He also emphasized that every project handled by DESOPADEC is usually executed based on the quantum of oil production with Itsekiris – 29 % production, Ijaws – 27 % production, Urhobos – 21 % production, Isokos – 14 % production and Ndokwas – 9 % production
Responding shortly after the meeting, HRM Joseph Idiare Oriagha1, Odiologbo of Oyede who submitted that “DESOPADEC under Bashorun Askia has woken up to the new system of constructive governance”, saying that the fulfilment of the Commission’s agenda would be awesome for the Isoko people and Deltans in general. He said that the representatives of Isoko nation in DESOPADEC are persons who have good integrity.
The President General of Ozoro clan, Mr. Areh during a vote of thanks lauded the Managing Director/CEO of DESOPADEC and his team for the meeting and prayed for God’s enablement to fulfill the promises made to the people.
Present at the enlarge meeting were Traditional Rulers across Isoko land, all DESOPADEC team led by the MD/CEO, all Presidents General, Chairmen and Secretaries of various Clans.
*Albert OGRAKA writes from the office of the MD/CEO DESOPADEC.
