To be more specific when I visited some of these areas to do some mapping on behalf of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), some years ago my heart sank because of the level of unprecedented neglect and human misery in the areas. Most of the roads were death-traps; infrastructural facilities were non-existent; no pipe-borne water; no dispensaries, not to talk of hospitals; no electricity, etc.
Pebbles with Igbotako Nowinta
The establishment of Oil Producing Areas Development Commissions by state governments in the Niger Delta is one of the biggest and stimulating things that have come out of the region since the return of democracy in 1999.
It is so because prior to the proliferation of these development commissions, a chunk of the people living in these arear were left to rot away as they lived (some still) live in abject squalor, desolation and certain death.
To be more specific when I visited some of these arear to do some mapping on behalf of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), some years ago my heart sank because of the level of unprecedented neglect and human misery in the areas.
Most of the roads were death-traps; infrastructural facilities were non-existent; no pipe-borne water; no dispensaries, not to talk of hospitals; no electricity, etc.
It was an absolutely pathetic situation, where those that made their lands available for oil exploration for the benefit of the whole nation were abandoned to faith; to live like out cast in the midst of plenty; to die pitilessly like ownerless dogs, unsung.
Therefore, it was quite exciting when Ondo State came out with Ondo State Oil Producing Arear Development Commission, while other states in the region gradually and stoically followed suit.
It is a fact that the people are still confronted with some developmental challenges, even after the establishment of these oil producing areas development commissions. The situation would have been really worst by now if they were never created.
Therefore, when ex-governor of Delta state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori decided to establish the Delta State Oil Producing Development Areas Commission (DESOPADEC) as his second tenure in office was about to eclipse the people danced and sang hosanna.
Since DESOPADEC came on board the story there has been bumpy and unpleasant with successive administrations being accused of one financial impropriety or the other.
Conscious and disturbed by these torrential accusations, as soon as he settled down as Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa decided to strengthen the DESOPADEC statutorily.
He sent a bill to the Delta State House of Assembly to administratively reorganize DESOPADEC for effective dispensation of democratic dividends to the people of Delta state.
Ultimately, Governor Okowa signed a new DESOPADEC law that has allowed a management team while the post of Executive Chairman was replaced with that of Managing Director who is now charged with the day to day running of the organization.
Today, Chief Williams Makinde is the Managing Director of DESOPADEC (an Urhobo man from Oghara in Ethiope West of Delta state, while Hon. Godwin Obosa is the chairman (an Itsekiri man from Warri North).
As the first Managing Director of DESOPADEC, a chartered Accountant and a former Executive Director of African Independent Television (AIT), Chief Makinde is the round peg in a round hole in the organization since its inception.
But quite unfortunately unnecessary tribal/ethnic sentiments, campaign of calumny and outright lies have been elevated to the zenith by the enemies of Chief Makinde in order to pull him down.
Well this is not unexpected in a state like Delta, but a man like the present Managing Director who is assiduously trying to reposition DESOPADEC should be left alone to do his job
The Managing Director has laid much emphasis on human capital development of youths and women and other sector of the economy and alignment of 50-50 ratio for both men and women development in DESOPADEC’s youth development program.
Given the fact that some of the communities in the DESOPADEC orbit are still suffering from neglect in terms of amenities, all sentimental/parochial pressures should be abandoned for Chief Williams Makinde to focus on his job
I therefore add my voice to the call that Makinde should be left alone.
Nowinta wrote Where We Are: A Call for Democratic Revolution in Nigeria
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