The national executive of the Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations for Peace and Unity of Nigeria ( CCSOPUN), has condemned in strong terms the protest of the Association of Oil and Gas Producing Communities of Delta State, who went to EFCC demanding for the probe of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The coalition who spoke in Abuja after another meeting held on 26th June 2023, on the state of the nation quarterly review among other issues, called on EFCC, other relevant agencies of government and the general public to disregard the black market lies cooked and peddled by the ‘mischief workers’ who go by the name of Oil and Gas Producing Communities of Delta State in order to tarnish the good name and unblemished character of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the former governor of Delta State.
It stressed that from 2015 to 2023 administration of Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State government invested over N3.7trillion intorural and urban infrastructural development and women and youth empowerment programme for the prosperity of all Deltans.
In a statement signed by the national president of the coalition, Dr Onwubuya Breakforth and general secretary, Dr Halima Abdullahi, the coalition noted that since 2007 to date it had been monitoring activities in the state and can respond to all matters of credibility bordering on activities of governors in the region.
The statement reads in part: “Fortunately in respect of the 50% legally prescribed allocation to Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) from the 13% oil derivation fund for rehabilitation and development of the oil producing areas in Delta State has been the primary focus and commitment of the immediate past governor of Delta State Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
“From 2015 to 2023 eight years span of productive administration of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State government has invested over 3.7 Trillion Naira into rural and urban infrastructural development and women and youth empowerment programmes of prosperity for all Deltans.
“The N1.077trillion being accused Okowa of by the duo of Chief EK Clark and Association of Oil and Gas producing Communities of Delta State Producing Areas is unpatriotic and detraction from applauding the good works of the former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. The question they failed to answer, is where did Gov Okowa get over 3.7trillion that he has invested through DESOPADEC for the grassroots development and rehabilitation projects in oil producing areas of Delta State?
