Groups Differ On Clark’s Petition Against Okowa To EFCC

Groups in Delta State have disagreed over the petition by Chief Edwin Clark to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa.

While a group, Movement for the Survival of Niger Delta People (MOSOND) has thrown its weight behind the elder statesman, Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders (DENYL), has described the attacks by Clark on Okowa as avoidable and unnecessary.

The petition was for allegedly mismanaging the 13 per cent crude oil derivation funds meant for the development of the oil producing communities in Delta State in the last eight years.

MOSOND was responding to a set of youth leaders who had led a delegation to the chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Felix Mujakperuo, the Ovie of Okpe Kingdom, on the need to summon an emergency meeting of all traditional rulers in the state to appeal to Chief Edwin Clark to cease fire on his call for the probe of Okowa.

In a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Dr Sebastine Agbefe, the group said, “The so-called youths are not just grandfathers and old men parading themselves as youth leaders, but also aides of the former governor who enjoyed patronage from siphoning the funds of the oil producing communities.”

But the president of the Itsekiri National Youth Council and coordinating chairman Delta State Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders’ Forum, Comrade Weyinmi Agbateyiniro told the monarchs they were at the secretariat to seek their intervention in curtailing the seeming inter-ethnic feud that could emanate from the said attacks on the ex-governor.

According to Agbateyiniro, as youth leaders they cannot sit and watch things go wrong in the state especially as they see the former governor as their role model because he paved way for youths to grow in the state.

“We view our foremost leader, Chief Clark’s attacks and petition against Okowa as avoidable and unnecessary media trial of the former governor and we urge the council to intervene,” Agbateyiniro stated.

Responding, the chairman Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo, Orhue I, thanked the youth leaders for showing concern and for following the path of peace. He said the council will consider their request and communicate their resolution to the youth leaders.

“We are proud of you for following the mature way of peace and for not allowing crisis to reign in the state. We will deliberate on this matter and communicate back to you,” he stated.