-By Albert OGRAKA:
DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has said accountability is as an indispensable tool of management and hallmark of his administration and charged all political appointees to embrace it.
The governor stated this on Wednesday in Asaba at the inauguration of the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
While congratulating the appointees, he specifically urged members of the Board of DESOPADEC to ensure that projects were executed according to the needs of the people.
“Do not exclude the locals from the process of project execution; I recognize that quite a number of the board members are proven grassroots politicians.
“I trust that you will do the wise thing of involving the host communities in your decision-making process, because it is imperative for peace, cooperation and development, team work, discipline, mutual understanding and cooperation are prerequisites for your success.
“You must be fair, equitable and just, and let me hasten to add that this administration will NOT hesitate to sanction any erring board member in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
The governor, who scored his administration high in project delivery through DESOPADEC, asserted that “after four years of the new regime, I believe there has been better synergy in the management of the agency, quality representation on the board and responsiveness on the part of the agency to the developmental aspirations and environmental concerns of the host communities.
“This is, because during the course of my first tenure, I inaugurated notable infrastructure projects executed by DESOPADEC and I was impressed not only by the quality of these projects but by the fact that they were in tandem with the expectations of the host communities.”
Those inaugurated as members of DESOPADEC Board were Hon. Michael Diden (Chairman), Chief Askia Ogieh (Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer) and Mr Shedrack Agediga, Barr Leonard Anoka, Hon. Daniel Mayuku and Hon. John Nani as Executive Directors respectively.
Others who were inaugurated as representatives of oil producing areas in the state are Mr Grifton Omastsuli, Dr Paul Oweh, Chief Kent Okiemute, Hon. Joyce Overah, Arch. Anselm Nwokenye, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, Mr. Ikechukwu Akozor, Chief Vincent Oyibode and Dr. Ossai Ochonogor Samuel.”
Responding on behalf of members of DESOPADEC, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bashorun Askia Ogieh assured the Governor that the new Board would be focused towards ensuring a fair deal with host communities.
He said that there would be a rebranding in the Commission’s activities to meet the yearnings of the oil producing areas in the state, adding the present Board is made up of dedicated and result driven members.
