Since 2019 when the current board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, was inaugurated, the leadership has upheld and pursued the clear executive directive of His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, to achieve tangible impact in the oil producing areas of the state.

As an intervention agency of government, the engagement has been undertaken with every ounce of dynamism and full commitment to changing lives and the infrastructure narrative of various communities within available resources.

The array of interventions has been delivered with unalloyed adherence to quality, prudence and direct impact on the beneficiaries. The projects, evenly spread across the ethnic nationalities of Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and Ika, span the fields of Education, Social and Community Development, Housing, Water, Health, Power, Transportation and Human Capital Development, with the Commission undoubtedly surpassing the assessment parameter on the dashboard.

This synoptic appraisal of key sectors evidences the glorious testimonial of a Commission that has truly made a difference in the oil-bearing communities of our dear state and we are delighted by the resoundingly positive impact on the people.

Health
Conscious of the fact that “health is wealth” and that a healthy people constitute great asset to the essential productive processes of their immediate environment and beyond, the current DESOPADEC Board has in the last three years devoted huge resources in the provision of health care facilities, equipment and consumables to cater for the needs of its mandate communities.

One of such health care facilities is the Ultra Modern Cottage Hospital at Oboghoro, a burgeoning coastal community in Warri North Local Government Area, complete with a well equipped Medical Quarters for the accommodation of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel who are now happily delivering services to the people.

In the same vein, the board, by popular demand, constructed an Ultra Modern All-Purpose Health Facility at Agoloma in Patani Local Government Area to respond to the health needs of the people. The fully furnished and equipped facility was commissioned by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori who gave plaudits to the Ogieh-led board for its deep connection with the people.

In his words, the efforts and achievements of the board attests to the ever bold initiative of the Trustees of the Commission on behalf of the Governor Okowa administration.

The board in the period under review also built and equipped a health facility at Utagba-Uno in Ndokwa West Local Government Area. This is in addition to renovating and fencing tens of clinics and hospitals in various other communities within the Commission’s mandate areas.

The Commission also donated equipment worth several millions of Naira to selected cottage hospitals and clinics as in Ogulagha, Burutu LGA; Oboghoro, Warri North LGA; General Hospital, Olomoro and Egbe-Igbide Cottage Hospital all in Isoko Nation. This is besides embarking on continuous free medical health programmes across most communities within its mandate areas.

The icing on the health pie was the provision of comprehensive medical equipment and consumables to all of the 268 Primary Health Care Centres in the state at the end of 2022.

The initiative ranks among the single largest dimension of corporate social responsibility in the health sector executed by any interventionist agency. It received the immediate commendation of His Excellency the Governor of Delta State who has also severally applauded the effectiveness of DESOPADEC in aligning with the Stronger Delta agenda of the State Government in health and other sectors.

Education
Education is one of the parameters used to assess the development of societies and regions, especially by the Sustainable Development Goals. It thus has remained a key sectorial focus in the development of DESOPADEC mandate areas.

Since its establishment in 2007, DESOPADEC has given utmost attention to education through diverse expressions and the Askia Ogieh-led board has sustained this noble trend since its inauguration in August 2019 to embark on delivering brand new or completely renovated or refurbished blocks of classrooms, Lecture Halls, ICT facilities, perimeter fencing, water schemes, Principal Lodges, Lecturers and Staff Quarters, Student Hostels and Halls of Residence, Corpers Lodges, provision of books and furniture, amongst a range of other facilities all tailored towards guaranteeing a conducive environment for teaching and learning.

These landmark projects in the education sub-sector which are in hundreds, litter the ethnic nationalities of the Commission’s mandate areas. They span all cadres of education – elementary, secondary and tertiary – and draw directly from the needs assessment policy and consultations with the respective benefitting communities.

These interventions address inadequacies and help to still the billows of agitation and apprehension that seem to linger over time.

Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic that threatened lives and upended the socio-economic fortunes of nations, it is incredible that the board could very decisively take on many cost-intensive projects in the sector and deliver at high quality.

Roads and Transportation
Roads are the major channels of transportation of goods and passengers. They play a significant role in the socio-economic life of communities.

Driven by this understanding and a pragmatic passion to significantly increase the tempo of development in its mandate areas, the present board of DESOPADEC has taken very bold steps in intervening in the construction of various roads, jetties, bridges, concrete walkways, drainages and rehabilitation of some roads across various communities. The aim is to develop critical infrastructure in the rural areas to enhance business and commercial activities, especially the movement of farm produce to processing centres and markets in upland and coastal towns and cities.

Some of the communities, by no means exhaustive, that have benefited in this sector include Obotebe I, Oghara, Jesse, Sapele, Warri Metropolis, Uzere, Oleh, Olomoro, Emede, Emevor, Ozoro, Ugbege, Ogheye, Oboghoro, Utonlila, Ofagbe, Ibrede, Abavo-Obi Anyinma and other towns and communities too numerous to mention.

The joy and pride of the benefiting communities give credence to the proactive engagement of the Commission.

The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr Goodnews Agbi, has charged the people of Delta State to vote him as the next governor of the oil-rich state.

Agbi, a renowned academia and social crusader, said he will be prudent and accountable to the people of the state if elected as their governor.

The NNPP governorship candidate, who described himself as the ‘Peter Obi’ in the guber race in the state, called on the supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate to support him in the March 11 governorship election.

He said he is the only governorship candidate in the contest that poses the character and values which endeared the Labour Party candidate to the Nigerian people during the presidential election.

He spoke during the party’s campaign tour of Oyede, Ivrogbo-Irri, Idheze, Orie-Irri, Utue-Irri and Oleh in Isoko South and North local government areas of the state.

Agbi, received by mammoth crowd of supporters, said he was in the race because Delta needs a personality with track record and integrity to attract development to all parts of the state

While telling the people of the area that he was contented and not ready to trade the state resources ‘hungry politicians’, admonished Deltans to be wary of politicians who had enriched themselves with the state resources in their previous positions.

He added that as a governor, he will not build more houses apart from the two houses he had built in Oleh and his hometown of Oyede respectively.

According to him, “I always tell people that l built a very small house in Oleh and my hometown, Oyede, if I am elected I will not build a house in Asaba or anywhere else. I will use Delta State money to develop the state. People shouldn’t look at where I come from they should look at what I intend to do for the state.

“I have been very consistent fighting for justice, fighting for the downtrodden people, fighting for the oppressed, defending the defenseless, grooming the future generation as lecturer. I have always been nominated as best student friendly lecturer by my students in all the schools i have taught, in Ozoro polytechnic, now Delta State University of Science and Technology, Delta State University Abraka, Oleh Campus. Ask any of my ex students, they will tell you Dr. Goodnews Agbi is a benevolent person with good heart. I will govern Delta with a human face. Agbi told them.

He opined that, “If you look at what happened during the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly election in Nigeria people are no longer voting for party rather they are voting individuals with impeccable character that can give the people quality and effective representation.

“Since we have been hearing of Obidient Movement, Mr. Peter Obi never gave money to people to campaign and vote for him, a lot of people voted for him without money. We shouldn’t look at party come March 11th vote for me and the House of Assembly candidate Isoko South Constituency 1 Hon. Clement Oyibo a. k a Bako.

“In Isoko people are always afraid when you tell them. I am contesting for governor and i cannot be discouraged. But at the moment i am fully primed to contest the governorship.If people are looking at where you hail from or how much money you have, Mr. Peter Obi will not win Lagos State, Nasarawa and other states.

“It is what the person can offer and the character of the person is what voters are looking for, that will make them to vote for him.”

On his part, the House of Assembly candidate for Isoko South Constituency 1 under the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Hon. Clement Oyibo stated that, if given the mandate he will sponsor people oriented bills that will bring about change and development in the constituency.

According to him, “I will sponsor a bill that will take those children you see around burial and marriage ceremony begging food, money and even stealing people’s money from the street and give them quality education so that their mindset and orientation will change.”

He also said that, among the candidates jostling for the House of Assembly seat he is the most qualified person to represent the good people of Isoko South Constituency 1.

Plans to disrupt the collation of results at Delta South Senatorial District collation Centre, Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, has been unveiled.

An impeccable source at the collation Centre said he overheard some bigwigs in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Isoko extraction putting finishing touches on how to mobilize their waiting thugs to invade the venue and chase everybody away.

It was gathered that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta South Senatorial hopeful, Hon. JOEL-ONOWAKPO Thomas, was already leading in the counted votes.

The plan according to our source has it that it was obvious that the PDP candidate was no where near victory, hence the plan to disrupt the process which may lead to cancellation of results in the district.

“As I am making this call, there are plans to invade the Centre. I want the security agencies, local and international observers, INEC, the media and the general public to take note. A y attempt to disrupt the process may lead to chaos in the district. “

By Nneka Glory Nwachukwu

Atuma-Iga and Akwukwu-Igbo are two communities sharing the same political Ward in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State that have not known peace for some time now following alleged land grabbing and disagreements.

The obnoxious chapter in the homeland of one time Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Late Chief Michael Agbamuche, SAN), was sacrilegious and like the height of infamy.

The people of Akwukwu-Igbo, which is the headquarters of Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria, also known as the “Land of Desert Warriors”, have accused the Obi of Atuma-Iga of sponsoring some of his subjects of grabbing their lands.

They made the allegation in a protest today at the site of the lands where crops were destroyed.

Akwukwu-Igbo people, led by Chief Chibuzor Mokeme, Community head of Akwukwu Igbo,  alleged that His Royal Majesty, Obi Daniel Chukwuma Ogbudo, the Obi of Atuma-Iga, was behind the land grabbing and farm destruction in Akwukwu-Igbo.

They alleged that Obi Ogbudo and his people used the police and military personnel from the Brigade Command to intimidate them.

According to the protesting Akwu-kwu-Igbo people, “Atuma-Iga people wrote to deceive the police into giving them back up and coverage until the police discovered the truth and withdrew their men from the disputed lands.

“With the influence of Chief Fred Ajudua, some military personnel  came into Akwukwu-Igbo land yesterday Thursday, 23 February, 2023, and they are still there to destroy economic trees and crops of inhabitants and farmers in Akwukwu-Igbo.

“The main occupation of our locals are mainly farming and fishing so how do we survive when our produce are being destroyed”.

Our reporter gathered that the disputed land in question is in Ogbe-Iyase quarter of Akwukwu-Igbo.

Regardless the protesters appealed to governor Ifeanyi  Okowa of Delta state to call the Obi of Atuma-Iga and Chief Fred Ajudua to order. Claiming that the Obi and his people are calling for communal crisis in the peaceful local government area.

In a telephone call to DSP Bright Edafe, Police Public Ralation Officer of the State Police Command, to ascertain the knowledge of the police on the allegations against the Obi of Atuma-Iga, his subjects and Chief Fred Ajudua, he said he was not aware of any land grabbing crisis there but I should do him an sms to reach out to the Divisional Police Officer at Akwukwu-Igbo.

According to Edafe “Police gives protection and coverage to all persons so they cannot protect Atuma-Iga people against Akwukwu-Igbo. The Divisional Police Headquarters at Akwukwu-Igbo serves the whole Oshimili North. Besides, we do not really have the manpower for that now as our focus is mainly on the Saturday elections. That allegation seems baseless but do me an sms to me for me to forward to the DPO for confirmation.

All efforts to reach HRM Obi Daniel Chukwuma Ogbudo, the Obi of Atuma-Iga through a visit to his Palace and his phone number 08X3 677 XXXX for his side of the story yielded no results as calls and sms were not responded to.

The Renewed Hope mantra of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential ambition has continued to resonate across the South-South region of Nigeria with springs of canvassers wooing voters for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Sustaining the intensity of their campaigns, a group, South-South Movement for Tinubu/Shettima Ticket (SSMTS) in a press briefing of journalists and media organizations in Delta state, reiterated why Nigerians should overwhelmingly vote for the APC’s presidential candidate.

The group led by its National Coordinator, Eyengho Samuel Besidone, recounted the antecedents of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as governor of Lagos state while juxtaposing his candidature and prospects for Nigerians with that of his opponents.

While noting the group’s success in pushing Tinubu’s ambition within the South-South states, Eyengho said, “we hope that our people are well convinced with the assurances that our principal is bestowed with, that extraordinary quality that no other candidate possess, something more than learning, more than practice, something more than mere training, and that is the resilience that has kept him over the decades of successful team building, capacity and the carriage that is rare amongst the average Nigeria political class”.

Parts of the group’s supporting statements why more Nigerians should turn up enmasse to cast their votes for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, read below.

1. Our principal has transversed the length and breadth of the Nigerian state and in some cases twice and thrice as the case may be with his idea of a Renewed hope, all through the electioneering campaign period, he has spoken to the heart of Nigerians what he has in the offing. In return, the acceptance is overwhelming as can be seen with the huge crowd of party supporters, and electorates as well as large numbers of decampees from opposition political parties who troop out in countless numbers to identify with him whenever he arrives at the campaign venues each state he visited.

2. The indices are high, and we are convinced he will win on the first ballot:

a. Considering his antecedent of embedding sustainable development as a former Governor of Lagos.

b. The APC has structures in all 36 states.

c. The show of capacity thus far by the 22 APC governors who are irrevocably committed to the Tinubu/Shettima Tickets especially those from the Northern extraction of the country.

d. Additionally, even some of the PDP Governors particularly the aggrieved G5 governors , who were betrayed, mocked and as such have exhibited genuineness in their quest for equity and the unity of the Nigeria State specifically Rivers, Oyo, Abia etc.

e. Furthermore, while traversing the nook and crannies of the country, our principal has been able to convince Nigerians that modern-day infrastructural development and sustainable policies, especially on Education, security, economy, social, IGR, tourism, transport, commerce, information Technology to mention a few, of Lagos state can be replicated across the Nigeria State.

The reason all sitting and formal governors of the 36 states of Nigeria have properties and mansions in Lagos including his contenders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour party (LP).

Had Asiwaju not developed and established the Lagos master plan and consistently ensure it is followed to the later by all successive governments after him, these politicians would not have seen Lagos as their haven. We would love to put before the opposition parties, why have the home state of Adamawa and Anambra not been so comfortable with their candidates having been former governors, they either reside abroad (Dubia and London) or they are in Lagos. Therefore, Asiwaju has said all states of Nigeria need a sustainable master plan that can allow the steady development of these states to discourage the influx of Nigerians to Lagos.

f. Our candidate did not at any time claim to be a monopoly of knowledge, the reason he openly displayed his rare critical leadership skills during the Chatham house interview, wherein he promised Nigerians that he will draft an excellent team of professionals to help proffer solutions to the Nigeria Mirage of problem.

3. Our principal is bold and courageous hence as a president he won’t be a pushover. In a trying time like this, we need a brave and fearless President to take the lead, that is exactly what Asiwaju symbolizes.

Apparently, we need someone who will not be hesitant to take bold and decisive decisions especially as it concerns the National interest of the Nigeria populist on Security, and Economy/Monetary policies, he will be able to challenge those cartels entrenched in the fuel subsidy reaping off our commonwealth through the scam called a subsidy.

We are well assured there won’t be untouchable under his government every public office holder will be put into check and control for the interest of the people.

Asiwaju has over the years promised to tackle restructuring with a view to strengthening the component units of the Nigeria Federation, which will grow according to their potential an well as issues of recurring decimal vis- a -vis state police, resource control, etc. Asiwaju is the true Nigeria that can be best described as a UNIFIER, he is not a religious bigot like the PDP candidate, who speaks of his religion alone or the LP candidate who runs from one church of worship to the other seeking sympathy.

Leadership is by antecedence and experience. He cannot be seen to be a fanatic but a cosmopolitan, he can further be described “on a lighter note as (MTN) everywhere you go”. Our respected principal believed in the growth of manpower development, he has made people across the length and breadth of Nigeria as can be seen in the numerous testimonies from supporters like Joe Igbokwe, Nnamani, etc.

4. Why other presidential Candidates especially (Atiku and Obi) are in a self-serving sycophantic praise singing of the federal government’s anti-people failed and disgraceful CBN monetary policy (Naira Re-design), it is only our principal who in his usual vocal style come out publicly to challenge the presidency and stay with the people by proffering solution through a letter transmitted to the CBN, if implemented will ease the suffering of millions of Nigerians who could not gain access to their hard-earned cash from the bank.

Importantly as it is, our Principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not disturbed by the Naira Redesign, his worries are that the masses are gravely affected. The shout and alarm are rooted in his usual character as a champion of the commoners as exemplified in his NADECO and the Military junta struggles. Perhaps, vote buying is not peculiar to any party or candidate, for example, every stakeholder (INEC, Police, Military, para, military, observers, etc.) in the polity, requires finance (Cash) to ensure the smooth execution of their planning and logistic for the polls. Why do the so-called cabal think they are targeting our Principal (Tinubu)? They are of no consequences, these are the cabal who couldnt influence the outcome of the APC primary, where the delegates were all known to them and the numbers were reasonably small, they shall remain inconsequential and insignificant in the general election where well over 93.46 million voters will be the pivotal factors.

5. Conclusively, we wish to audaciously state that the PDP candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is up for a self-serving mission of coming to sell our national assets to his families, friends, and cronies. He is coming to sell those national assets remaining in Nigeria, that escaped him in 1999-2007 e.g., NNPC-LTD, NPA, and other viable National assets that our candidate intends to transform into profit generation for the best interest of the Nigeria State. His desperation to become president this time is nonetheless for self-enrichment and not out of patriotic zeal. While his counterpart Mr Peter Obi of the LP is capitalizing on the ignorance of some few Nigerians, otherwise he should have set Anambra on the path of greatness by ensuring sustainable infrastructural institutions, such that successive government can then build on it as can be seen in Lagos state. Instead, we hear H.E Soludo, Chukwuma complained that the environment of Anambra state is his number one existential threat other than security as over 40% of Anambra land is under threat of erosion and Anambra is now the Erosion capital of Nigeria. Meanwhile, Tinubu was able to salvage the entire Lagos Island from the threat of Ocean Surge which would have taken many lives, The question is what did Peter Obi do to bring the necessary succour to the good people of Anambra while as Governor of that great state for eight years?

6. Gentlemen of the press, from all indications, our principal Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is winning landslides in the February 25th, 2023, general election based on our conviction and track records. We, therefore, humbly call on our eligible voters across the South-South geopolitical zones to turn out in their numbers to vote ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU and the APC in their respective polling units. The leadership of the South-South Movement for Tinubu/Shettima Tickets will be here with you next week to address and thank Nigerians at a post-election victory press conference.