DESOPADEC Contractors Suspends Protest Over Intervention By Delta DSS, Says Attempt At Blackmail Fail

Oghenruona Tejiri, Warri

Members of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Forum have suspended planned protest slated for Friday following the intervention by the State Directorate of State Services (DSS) after presentation of verifiable documents presented to them.

Chairman of the Forum, Ogie Samson Oritsebemigho and Secretary, Prince Charles Ebigbagha, in a statement issued yesterday said 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 in the presence of the Chief Security Officer of DESOPADEC Mr. Galvin Ugbome.

The group stated that 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,, they said 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.

The Forum expressed appreciation to the Directorate of State Services (DSS), Delta State Command for their professionalism assuring that the crisis would be resolved with the intervention of the undercover agency.

It 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, stated in the statement that 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 themselves 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.