For peace to reign, Diebiri must produce next DESOPADEC commissioner, G- 14 informs Okowa

A socio cultural group operating under the auspices of G-14 in Diebiri Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State has called on the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi A. Okowa to ensure that Diebiri indigene becomes the next commissioner representing the Ijaw ethnic nationality on the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC.

The Diebiri group had charged the Governor to urgently constitute the Board, stressing that it is now the turn of the Diebiri people to produce the next commissioner that will be representing the Ijaw ethnic nationality in Delta State.

Diebiri kingdom made this known in an open letter dated June 5th 2019 addressed to the Executive Governor of Delta State, signed by the group leadership Comr. Edwin Abobo

Chairman; Mr. Abisco Dally, Coordinator and two other members.

The group had particularly called on the attention of the Governor that he should follow the existing theory of production quantum to select the next commissioner of DESOPADEC that will represent the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

However, the letter had suggested that since the establishment of DESOPADEC, Diebiri an oil producing kingdom have not had the privilege of producing the commissioner while other oil bearing kingdoms have been producing.

They had called on the Governor of Delta State to be fair to them by allowing Diebiri Kingdom to produce the next commissioner that will be representing the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

The letter read in full bellow:

G-14 DIEBIRI KINGDOM

His Excellency,

Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa

The Executive Governor,

Delta State

Your Excellency,

DIEBIRI KINGDOM POSITION IN THE SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS / REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE IJAW ETHNIC NATIONALITY INTO THE 2019 BOARD OF DELTA STATE OIL PRODUCING AREAS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (DESOPADEC)

We the G- 14 Group is a strong crusader of peace, freedom and unity in Diebiri Clan and in no small measure worked with the PDP political leadership of Diebiri Clan in the just concluded elections in the state.

We therefore give thanks to the Almighty God for the victory of the PDP at the polls which brought you and the Deputy Governor Barr. Kingsley Otuaro back to the Delta State Government House for a second term and a successful swearing-in ceremony.

However, we wish to draw the attention of the Delta State Governor Sen.( Dr. ) IFEANYI A. OKOWA to a perceived plan by some group of persons to short-change our clan in the selection of Members/Representatives of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality into the Board of DESOPADEC.

We want to state categorically that it is now the turn of the Diebiri Indigene to be appointed into the Board, since all other Ijaw Oil Producing Kingdoms have had their share in the commission.

It is a known fact that, since the establishment of the commission by the then Governor CHIEF JAMES ONANEFE IBORI in 2006, the Ijaw Oil Producing Kingdoms have been taking turns in its appointment in a rotational method based on production quantum which is the bedrock of the law establishing the commission.

The Ijaw Oil Producing Clans have a simple sharing formula which has been guarding or controlling the selection and subsequent appointment of individuals into the Board. In line with the production quantum theory which is being applied by the Ijaw ethnic nationality, Ogulagha Clan comes first, followed by Gbaramatu, Egbema, Ogbe-Ijoh and Diebiri Clan respectively.

To show a simple narrative of this arrangement with existing facts, in 2006 when the commission was established, Ogulagha Clan had their Representative, Late Chief Francis Temewei. In 2011 Gbaramatu Clan had their Representative, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro (The present Deputy Governor). In 2015 when the Law was amended, Egbema and Ogbe-Ijoh were represented by Pastor Philip Gbasin and Chief Favour Izoukumor as Executive Director and Commissioner respectively.

Based on this clear narrative and the production quantum theory/sharing formula arrangement of the Ijaw Oil Producing Clans, it is practically clear that it is now the turn of Diebiri Kingdom to be considered first in producing the next Board Member from the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

We are making this known to the Governor SEN. (DR). IFEANYI A. OKOWA and all Deltans that the Diebiri people should not be short-changed against the quantum of production theory/sharing formula arrangement which has been maintained by the Ijaw ethnic nationality since the inception of the commission.

We are confident that, the Governor SEN. (DR.) IFEANYI A. OKOWA, the “Sabi Governor “, a man of sincerity and integrity, a man of wisdom, knowledge and understanding, a man of equity and fairness, a man who always work with the fear of God will do what is right by appointing a credible and reliable indigene from Diebiri Clan.

We sincerely anticipate the quick constitution of the Board and hoped that your choices of selection and subsequent appointment of individuals will be fair, just and equitable in order to avoid any form of unrest and crisis in the Oil Producing communities and kingdoms of the State.

Yours faithfully,

For and on behalf of G-14, Diebiri Clan.

Comr. Edwin Abobo

Chairman.

Mr. Abisco Dally

Coordinator.

Comr. Louis Ogbeghan

Member.

Comr. Peter Dio

Member.

Mr. John Newyear

Member

Member.

Comr. Peter Dio