…As Police Arrest 10 Protesters
…Makinde Calls for Calm
By Francis Sadhere
The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC is once again enmeshed in crisis as an Itsekiri group under the aegis of Itsekiri Joint Action Group, IJAG, today shuts down its activities at the Warri head office over alleged marginalization.
The group has also threatened to shut down the commission’s facilities in the riverine areas of Delta and Edo if their demand is not met.
The Itsekiri group handed down the threat during a peaceful protest at the DESOPADEC Head Office in Warri.
The peaceful protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “DESOPADEC is not a population Commission,” “ We demand for 100% derivation funding of DESOPADEC,” “Revamp the scholarship for our students,” “DESOPADEC is not a population Commission but Oil & Gas Commission,” “Our H.O.D slots must reflect our oil quantum. Don’t rob Peter to Pay Paul.”
Coordinator of the group, Comrade Prince Omagbemi Harry Tuoyo while speaking to journalists, accused the Board of marginalizing the Itsekiris in the board just as he gave the board 24 hours to consider their plights otherwise their office and facilities will be shut down.
Comrade Tuoyo said the Itsekiris working in the DESOPADEC Board are being marginalized despite its large production quota in the state.
He, “Our next line of action is that even if the state Governor refuse to call them, we will shut down the riverine area in Benin, Delta Axis. We give them 24 hours from now.”
The group which comprise HOSTCOM Oil & Gas (Itsekiri Chapter Youth Wing), National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG), National Association of Itsekiri Students, NAIS, Iwere Development Association (IDA) and Warri Socials noted that the mandate of the Itsekiri people in DESOPADEC has not been given to them.
Comrade Tuoyu said they embarked on the protest after all efforts to meet with the DESOPADEC Managing Director and Board including its representative, Chief Thomas Ereyitomis failed.
“There is the issue of staff marginalization based on quantum, we are being marginalized and our group has not been attended to. We have not gotten our mandate. I want to say that DESOPADEC is not a population commission. We are here to see the chairman and the DESOPADEC Board to agree on the next line of action.”
According to Comrade Tuoyo, the police have also arrested ten youth in connection with the protest. He condemned the arrest of the youths, saying the protest was just a peaceful protest and he sees no reason why the police should intimidate them.
In a swift reaction, the Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Chief Williams
Makinde, appealed to the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought as well as the Itsekiri Nation to prevail on the Itsekiri youths to sheath their swords in the interest of peace and oneness.
Chief Makinde who spoke through his media aid, Prince Orhomonokpaye said, “We appeal to the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT and the Itsekiri Nation to call their youths to order so that we can plan to settle down to address issues. We cannot do anything in a situation where there is crisis. Give us sometime to address some of their needs. We appeal to you to call your youths to sheath their swords in the interest of peace and oneness.”
In a similar development, the Delta State Government and the good people of the state have been called upon to ignore the threat to shut down the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) by the Itsekiri groups over an alleged unfair and inequitable distribution of projects, as the threat was unfounded and baseless as it does not reflect the true position of things in the commission.
The call was made in a statement jointly issued by five Urhobo Groups and made available to newsmen in Warri while reacting to a publication on page 37 of Vanguard Newspaper of October 27, 2015, edition, credited to some Itsekiri Groups.
