Oil producing communities in Delta State have asked the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to account for how he spent the 13 percent derivation fund accruable to the state within the period he was in office.
The Oil Producing Communities in Delta State stated this in a statement jointly signed by national chairman of Oil Producing Areas Association of Nigeria (OPAAN), Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini;
Pioneer national secretary of Traditional Ruler of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) and vice chairman of PANDEF Delta State), Prince Markpobi Okareme.
Others who signed the statement are Sir Matthew Itsekure (Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality); Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade (Ijaw Ethnic Nationality);
Chief Etenero John (Member Isoko Ethnic Nationality); and Hon. Mark Ikpuri (Urhobo Ethnic Nationality).
The oil communities who threw their weight behind the demand of the elder statesman Pa Edwin Clark for a probe into the how the funds were used, also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the matter.
The statement said, “The 50% which must be paid in block to DESOPADEC in accordance to section 13 of the DESOPADEC Law; he only paid over N208 billion for the period of 8 years, leaving a balance of about N330 billion.
We demand from Governor Okowa an account of how he spent the remaining 50% which was not given to DESOPADEC amounting to ₦538,725,143,276.17 (five hundred and thirty eight billion, seven hundred and twenty five million, one hundred and forty three thousand, two hundred and seventy six naira seventeen kobo) and the balance of the 50% meant for DESOPADEC amounting to about ₦330 billion and the sum total of about ₦ 869,450,286,552. 08.
“It should be noted that some of us from the oil producing areas of Delta State have been agitating for some years how the Governors of Delta State squandered or embezzled the 13% derivation funds without any benefit/development accruing to the oil producing communities to the extent that we have sued the Governors; Dr Uduaghan and Dr. Okowa to court asking them to account for the 13% derivation fund meant for the development of the Oil Producing Communities, and in fact, some of us have been members of DESOPADEC as Commissioners representing our Oil Producing Communities and therefore we are fully aware of the amount of money received by DESOPADEC out of the 13% derivation funds paid to Delta State Government.
“Similarly in 2017, the youths under the umbrella of New Delta Avengers addressed an open letter to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in a publication in vanguard of June 10th 2017. The youths in the New Delta Avengers protested to the Vice President to warn Governor Okowa to account for the total amount of money he received from the Federal Government on the 13% derivation fund because there is no visible development in the oil producing areas; for example the schools are without teachers, furniture’s and structure, no health services/hospitals, no light, no clean drinking water in the areas and if nothing is done by the Government within a reasonable time they will strike in the creeks because they have sent their boys to the creek but Chief Clark also appealed to them in vanguard of June 20th 2017 and the youth agreed to suspend their actions in vanguard of 29th June 2017. Yet Governor Okowa is arrogantly lying to the whole world that there is peace in the Niger Delta because of the Development he carried out.
“We are fully in support of Chief E.K. Clark’s petition to the EFCC and to show our support, representatives of the various Oil Producing Communities; the Itsekiris, Ijaws, Isokos, Ndokwas and Urhobo ethnic nationalities of the Oil Producing Areas led a protest to the headquarters of EFCC on Thursday June 22nd 2023, where we handed over a petition to EFCC which is widely reported by the media and part of the petition is reproduced hereunder;
“It is very disheartening and callous to note that despite the copious and unambiguous provisions of Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 13 (1) of the DESOPADEC Law of 2006 (as amended), 2007, 2015 and 2018 respectively, Okowa has deliberately and flagrantly abused, violated and breached the above provisions of the law and had continued to misappropriate the said funds for his personal use at the expense of the suffering people of the Oil and Gas Producing Communities in Delta State.
“It is very nauseating that despite the stupendous billions of naira being paid to the Delta State Government from the 13 per cent oil derivation fund from the Federation Account, the Oil Producing Areas/Communities continue to wallow in abject poverty with no commensurate social amenities and infrastructures in place.
“Finally, we will want the EFCC to bring all those concerned to book in other to avoid serious crisis in the Niger Delta which may affect the production of oil.”
