Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Contractors Forum has urged Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the board of the commission to ignore some self acclaimed Ijaw Ethnic Nationality Contractors Forum undermining the interventionist agency.

The chairman of the forum, Mr. Ogie Samson, in a statement issued Saturday, said DESOPADEC Contractors Forum comprises all contractors of ethnic groups, noting that there is no group such as DESOPADEC Ijaw Ethnic Nationality Contractors Forum.

Samson was reacting to a publication by a group claiming to be DESOPADEC Ijaw Ethnic Nationality Contractors Forum berating the commission’s board over non-payment of contracts and issuance of a six-point demand.

He said the signatories to the publication were not known to the DESOPADEC Contractors Forum and had no right to claims of non-payment for jobs that were not verified either by the board or the forum.

“DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum is reacting to an inappropriate publication by some persons over claiming non-payment of said named contractors. 

“It is a clear fact that DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum comprises all oil producing areas ethnic nationalities or indigenes who are contractors in DESOPADEC, and it should also come to the notice of His Excellency, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the amiable governor of Delta State that payments go to all ethnic nationalities involved in our forum,” he added.

Samson noted that though his members are hopping for better payments but maintained that the signatories to the publication and letter in the subject matter are not known to be executives of DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum. 

“Whatever claims they are making is made out of self benefits and should not be acknowledged. You don’t just wake up out of the blue, break out of a forum that you were never part of and create a forum as if people in DESOPADEC are not educated to understand what forgery is,” he added.

Samson gave names of the ethnic nationalities representatives in the forum as Chairman of DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors, Mr. Ogie Samson (Itsekiri representative); Secretary, Prince Charles Ebigbagha (ijaw representative); PRO, Hon. Patrick Oghenemu (representing Isoko); Mr Henry Ugboriata and many other members.

He said the forum has been having harmonious dialogue with the Chief Executive Director, SOS, Chief Favour Zuokumo, and Hon. Spencer Okpoye, who are ijaw representatives in DESOPADEC as management team.

Samson acknowledged that payments were being made to DESOPADEC contractors across the five ethnic nationalities and not as been speculated.

“Recently, the Executive Director, Social Service, Chief Favour Zuokumo and commissioner representing ijaw ethnic nationalities, Hon. Spencer Okpoye had a robust meeting with the Forum Excos and members, so we are surprised at these publication,” he said.

Samson maintained that the relationship between the management of DESOPADEC and the indigenous contractors forum is intact with payments made monthly, though there were challenges and demands brought before the management which were yet to be considered

The DESOPADEC Contractors Forum chairman however appealed to Governor Oborevwori to release funds to the interventionist agency to enable it meet its obligations to its members.

“We want to use this medium to appeal to His Excellency Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State, for release of funds to accommodate the already accrued debt burden of the commission owed to contractors,” he added.

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