– Stern looking policemen, on Thursday, prevented journalists from gaining access into the Delta government house as delta women protested against DESOPADEC
– The police held the journalists outside for over one hour saying it is their duty they are carrying out
– It was learnt that the women from Urhobo area of the state were unhappy over the manner the management of DESOPADEC were running the commission, hence called for the removal of the commissioners
Stern looking policemen stationed at the entrance to the Delta government house on Thursday blocked journalists from entering the government house as women were protesting against the maladministration of the management of the state Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
Many journalists drawn from both the print, electronic and online media were barred from entering the government house as representatives of the protesters were having audience with government officials at the government complex.
Police along the highway (file photo)
After much waiting at the entrance, some of the journalists were tired and left for their different abode.
However, it was learnt that the protesting women were at the government house to register their grievance to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and demanded the removal of the DESOPADEC Managing Director, Williams Makinde, and some other commissioners whom they alleged had failed to meet their responsibilities to the people they represent in the commission.
READ ALSO: DESOPADEC workers strip naked to protest non-payment of bonuses
The Urhobo women who were said to have stormed the government house under the aegis of Host Communities, Oil and Gas, Hostcom, with buses, held the government house ransom, arrived with over 20 buses and prevented vehicular movement into the premises.
They named three commissioners in the board, Mr. Jonathan Amitaye, Chief Pius Ovbije and Amos Ithiwe. Demanding their removal from the board over failure to meet their responsibilities to the people they represent.
Governor Okowa of Delta state
It was learnt that they carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Makinde must go’, ‘Amitaye must go’, accusing the urhobo representatives in the board of not using the commission’s fund to the advantage of the people.
ZENITHBLOG.com gathered that the leader of the protesting group, who is also chairman of Urhobo ethnic nationality in Hostcom, Mr. Godspower Okovwurie, alleged that their representatives misappropriated the N10million which was meant for the people they represent to celebrate the 2016 Christmas.
READ ALSO: Delta women protest continuous attack by Fulani herdsmen
He also said the Managing Director of the commission and the other Urhobo members were pursuing their selfish interest not that of the people they represent in the commission.
In a swift reaction, the commissioner representing Ughelli south, Udu and Uvwie, Amos Itihwe, denied the allegations, saying it was unfounded and baseless.
He alleged that the protest was sponsored by the All progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the good job being done at the commission.
He said the N10 million was not meant for only the executive of Hostcom but for the entire oil bearing communities in urhobo nation.
Also speaking in the same vain, Chief Pius Ovbije said the Christmas money was evenly distributed amongst the oil producing communities.
In a similar development, staff of the commission, over a week ago, protested naked in Warri over the management handling of their end of 2016 year packages.
360naze
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