Human rights activist, Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori-Ogbebor has charged three Itsekiri sons who are newly sworn members, Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) not to execute projects that meet their fancy, but ensure they engage in sampling the needs of the people to have a clear idea of what projects they desire.
The affected members include Hon. Micheal Diden (Ejele), Board Chairman; Hon. Daniel Mayuku, executive director, DESOPADEC and Hon. Giftson Omatsuli, all former members of the State House of Assembly.
Chief Lori-Ogbebor, who is also an Itsekiri leader, gave this charge at a press conference, which took place at her Surulere residence, urging the kinsmen to ensure that they were accountable to their people as they were appointed to that position save by the grace of being Itsekiri.
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According to her, the affected appointees shall account to the Itsekiri people at every point by disclosing “how much of Itsekiri money is at their disposal and consulting with us at regular Town Hall meetings on how best to plough these funds for the greater good of the people.”
Lori-Ogbebor, while charging the former lawmakers to ensure they make a more meaningful impact in the lives of the Itsekiri people in their new positions unlike in the past, told them that they remained and should remain trustees of “our commonwealth” in DESOPADEC, declaring that anything short of that expectation would be stiffly resisted.
The human rights activist, who lamented the lack of infrastructure and portable water in communities in the area, demanding that urgent step be taken to address the problems.
This was just as she indicated that the people of Itsekiri were resolved to form, very soon, a committee that would liaise with the chairman of DESOPADEC and the two other Itsekiris on the board every three months for stewardship report on progress so far recorded.
“May I sound it clear to them, you shall not take and execute projects that meet your fancy. You shall not have projects of your own as all projects belong and should emanate from the Itsekiri people. You must engage in sampling the needs of the people to have a clear idea of what they need, not your fancy. That point must be taken as a guide by all the three of them.
“We shall form a committee to liaise with you every three months for stewardship report on progress so far,” Chief Lori-Ogbebor said.
and then