A PRESS BRIEFING BY OIL AND GAS PRODUCING COMMUNITIES OF DELTA STATE ON THE 19TH JANUARY, 2024 AT FCT, ABUJA.
Gentlemen of the press
All Protocol observed
We once again welcome you all to this Press Briefing today having sometime last year draw the attention of the Nation to the delibrate efforts by the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa who govern the oil rich state from 2015-2023 and received the 13% oil derivation funds for 8 years amounting to over #1.2 Trillion meant for the physical development of our Oil Producing Communities of Delta state.
We are constrained to do this briefing against the background of the graveyard silence on the matter before our indefatigable Economic Financial Crime Commission even after a reminder letter was sent to the new chairman of the Commission on the 30th of October, 2023. We have been inaundated with daily arrogant comments and actions by the former Governor and his cohorts that midwifed these deliberate diversions of the funds meant for the development of host communities and boasting that they have settled top brass of EFCC, therefore they are powerless to invite and bring them to account for these funds for the benefit of poor members of host communities.
Though, we were invited by the Commission to the Zonal office at Port Harcourt in Rivers State having received our petition to attest to it, and a subsequent reminder as earlier mentioned, we are worried about the slow pace which is leaving an impression that indeed Senator lfeanyi Arthur Okowa and his cohorts are above the law and as such can neither be invited nor prosecuted.
We are aware that within the arena of our laws, no one is above the law. We are therefore using this medium to draw the attention of the anti graft agency to act in the interest of Oil and Gas Producing Communities in Nigeria particularly Delta State that are at the receiving end of negative environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration and exploitation activities which has destroyed our traditional occupation of fishing and crop farming while we have nothing tangible to show in our communities.
It is worthy of note that for the interest of justice and members of oil and gas producing communities former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa should be invited to account for our money as others like the current ongoing investigation on the suspended Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs especially from the point of the amount involved. Indeed we trust in the ability of the anti graft agency, EFCC to act but the delay in taking action is very worrisome, creating wrong impression and will give more rooms for continues diversion and misapplications of the 13th derivation funds.
We wish to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for his doggedness in confronting the monster called corruption in our dear Nation and we are compelled to appeal and call on Mr President to prevail on the anti-graft agency to act swiftly as this administration is poised to confront head on this menace of corruption that is the bane of our development; doing so will continue to build confidence in our nation’s economy that will eventually pull us out of our present pitiable economic conditions.
We thank you all for listening.
Signed for and on behalf of Association of Oil and Gas Producing Communities of Delta State.
Chief Mulade B. Sheriff
Ijaw Ethnic Nationality
Sir Mathew Itsekure
Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality
Hon Mark Ikpuri
Urhobo Ethnic Nationality
Chief John Etenero
Isoko Ethnic Nationality
Comrade Osita Ijeoma
Ndokwa Ethnic Nationality
Chief Godwin Ogbetuo
Vice Chairman, Delta State Elders Forum
Prince Maikpobi Okareme
Poineer National Secretary TROMPCON
