Gov Okowa Couldn’t Pay Salaries, but Doled Out N14M Easter Bonanza to Aides

Stop diverting funds meant for DESOPADEC, APC chieftain tells Okowa

APC chieftain in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Efeturi Lawrence Diveramredje, has urged Delta State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to stop the diversion of fund meant for Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), noting that Deltans are aware that the Commission is supposed to receive 50% of the 13% derivation funds that accrue to the State from the Federation Account Allocation Commission (FAAC).

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Diveramredje made this disclosure in a chat with journalists, yesterday in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government of the Delta State.

According to the APC chieftain, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has been neglecting the oil producing area in Delta State by diverting over N50 billion of the money that is due to DESOPADEC, noting that the Commission (DESOPADEC) was created to pacify the incessant agitations of oil producing areas in Delta State.

His words, “since Okowa became Governor in 2015, DESOPADEC has been operating like a ‘caged animal’. In fact, Okowa is operating like a hunter that is bent on killing DESOPADEC.
“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has continued to misappropriate the funds that are accrues to DESOPADEC, this is an abuse of authority; and the oil communities need to know who exactly is standing against the development of their communities.

“Okowa is violating DESOPADEC law of 2015, which stipulates that the Commission has exclusive rights to 50% of 13% Oil Derivation Funds for the rehabilitation and development of the oil-bearing areas in the State.
“The DESOPADEC law states clearly how the Commission should expend these funds, without intrusion or diversion. The explanation by Governor Okowa that he uses part of the money to defray former debts owed by the State is not supported by the Law, therefore it can be seen as a criminal act.

“In June 2017, a major part of N4.5 billion that ought to be accrue to the agency was again misappropriated. Okowa released just N1.65 billion to DESOPADEC, yet most of the money was for things he directed the Commission to do that had no link with developing the communities.

“Okowa has been deceitfully paying some of his political cronies hundreds of millions of Naira monthly since 2015 from the DESOPADEC allocation under the pretext of funding waterways security, while we agree that security is important, we imagine that most of the money goes into private pockets.

“It is therefore an evident that the rationale behind the setting up of DESOPADEC has been relegated, and the agency has become one that merely pays workers salaries for no work done” he added.




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