Isoko Youths Set For War With DESOPADEC Over Seizure Of N1 Million Empowerment Fund

The Isoko National Youth Assembly, (INYA), may have concluded plans to stage what its been called mass protest against the management of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC), over its refusal to honour directives by governor Ifeanyi Okowa by releasing wholly approved funds for empowerment and enhancement trainings for the youths.

HardReporters, reliably gathered that in a recent meeting held in Asaba, with the youth body, governor Okowa had strictly directed the commission’s Managing Director, Mr. Williams Makinde and the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Askia Ogieh to henceforth be releasing to the youth leadership N4 million out of the youths’ supposedly monthly N20 million empowerment and enhancement training funds which until now was been released to a former leadership of the youth body in the area headed by one Victor Egbo.

HardReporters can authoritatively report that before now, the N20 million accrued to the INYA in the commission is normally released through the office of the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Ogieh, but whenever the money is released, the sum of N2 million is given to Mr. Egbo, who doubles as aide to the governor, while Mr. Ogieh, will give N2 million to his son, Mr. Samuel Askia who does nothing, under a fraudulent subhead of consultancy and the remaining N16 million is shared among the likes of former house of Assembly member, Mr. Ross Uredi, Mr. Ogieh himself, the commissioner representing Isoko nationality in the commission, Mr. Ovie Oghoore and Mr. Tim Owhefere, Majority Leader, house of Assembly.

Report reaching our news desk revealed that the funds as directed by the Governor has been released to the youth body but not in full as a million naira was still been withheld by Mr. Ogieh and following the development, the youths have vowed to stage a mass protest against the commission.

HardReporters reliably gathered that it is an annual tradition of the commission as directed by the state governor to release N20 million each to the five ethnic nationalities that make up the commission at the end of every month for youth empowerment.

Meanwhile, in a communiqué signed few days ago at the end of the expanded executive council meeting of the Isoko National Youth Assembly, by Eniwake Orogun, Director of Media and Strategy, made available to our correspondent, warned management of DESOPADEC not to play pranks with the youth body.

“The leadership of DESOPADEC – Managing Director and Executive Director, Finance and Administration, immediately comply with His Excellency’s directive by releasing wholly approved funds for empowerment and enhancement trainings for our youths rather than politicizing in the name of the Governor” adding further that the commission, “Should expect the mother of all resistance should they fail to comply with his Excellency’s directive in exactly 48hours from now.”

The youth body used the medium to commend Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, over what they described as walking the talk on the Erhowa road construction as promised as well as responding swiftly to the call of the council to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the Isoko axis of the Ughelli-Isoko-Asaba expressway.

“All clan governors on whose domain construction work is ongoing must cooperate with site contractors and workers while all hands must be on deck in supervising the work. The Governor be commended for inviting Mr President, Comr Umuakpo Ovie, for a peaceful resolution of the leadership crisis of the Isoko National Youths Assembly.”.