By Pleasure Onohwakpo
The Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Hon. Barr. John Nani, has reacted to the recent claims by a PDP chieftain and former commissioner in the agency, Mr. Ken Okolugbo, in an Arise TV programme, Prime News, where he claimed that the Commission has nothing to show in Ndokwa nation.
It would be recalled that while fielding questions on the national television programme, on June 27, 2023, Mr. Ken Okolugbo, in an attempt to justify the call by Chief E.K. Clark that anti-graft agencies should invite the former governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for questioning, had alleged that DESOPADEC has not executed any project in the Ndokwa nation.
Okolugbo had said: “Since it is my state, I can clearly tell you that, initially I served as a Commissioner in DESOPADEC. From my area, Ndokwa where I come from, I know nothing has happened as regards DESOPADEC, I can tell you for free.”
Reacting to the allegation during a conversation with our correspondent, the chairman of the Commission, Hon. John Nani stated that Okolugbo’s denial of the impacts of DESOPADEC on the Ndokwa nation was not only far from the truth, but very unfortunate and a piece of self-indictment since he had also served the people of Ndokwa nation in the capacity of a Commissioner in DESOPAC during which time he ironically claimed credit for some projects executed by the Commission in the area.
Nani expressed surprise that the same Okologbo could turn around to claim DESOPADEC has done nothing in the Ndokwa nation just because of his impatience, adding that the people of the area could testify that the Commission has executed several projects in the past eight years.
The chairman highlighted some of the projects executed, accompanied with pictures, in the education sector, to include constructed and furnished 3 blocks of classrooms at Igbuku Primary School, Igbuku in Ndokwa East LGA; 1.9km perimeter fencing and constructed gatehouse at Oliogor Secondary School, Umuseti, Ndokwa East LGA; renovation of a block of 3 classrooms at Aboh Grammar School, Aboh, Ndokwa East LGA and constructed and furnished block of six (6) classrooms at Ogene Primary School, Ashaka, Ndokwa East LGA.
In the Social/Community Development and Housing sectors, Mr. Nani also highlighted projects executed by DESOPADEC, to include constructed and furnished ultra-modern Umuojugbeli Town Hall, Aboh; constructed edifice for the Nigeria Police Division, Ashaka – all in Ndokwa East LGA. Constructed and furnished doctors’ quarters with perimeter fencing in Utagba-Uno, in Ndokwa West LGA; constructed and furnished principal’s lodge at Aboh Grammar School, Aboh, constructed and furnished Corpers’ Lodge at Aboh Grammar School, Aboh – all in Ndokwa East LGA were, amongst others, also highlighted by the chairman.
Mr. Nani also, in the water sector, listed a completed and functioning 20,000 litres capacity solar-powered water scheme at Isemelu Ogbe-uno quarters, Ebedei-Uno in Ukwuani LGA. Moreover, in the power and energy sector, he pointed out with pictures, the supply and installation of a 100kva generator to power the Town Hall, Ogume and Ogume Electrification Work – both in Ndokwa West LGA.
The Commission chairman also illustrated his points with pictures, by listing a constructed and completed 650 meters stretch of the Ogbe-Inotu Road, Ogbe Ogume in Ndokwa West LGA and setting up of camp and delivering of relief materials to Internally-displaced persons, IDP in Ndokwa East LGA, amongst others.
The DESOPADEC chairman wondered why the former commissioner could descend so low as to propagate lies in a national television when he knew there was copious evidence of the Commission’s impacts in the three Council Areas of Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East and Ukwuani which make up the Ndokwa nation.
Mr. John Nani submitted that the management has judiciously applied the funds that available to it which, according to him, constitutes 50% of the 13% derivation fund accruable to the Commission in the past eight years.
“You can see the evidence of the Commission’s impacts to the three Local Government Areas of Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani which constitute the Ndokwa nation that Okolugbo referred to in that Arise TV programme. Pictures do not tell lies. You can also go round and do your independent verification of the projects I have highlighted to you.
“As a Commission, we have judiciously applied the funds that accrued to us as 50% of the derivation fund that came to the State over the period.
“As I speak to you, several capital projects are ongoing in the Ndokwa nation, and across the entire State. By the end of 2023, the Commission hopes to inaugurate and delivered some of these projects that directly impact positively on the lives of Deltans in our mandate areas”, he said.
