DELTA STATE CIVIL SOCIETY APPLAUSES DESOPADEC

--- As Nani says the Commission’s activities are transparent.

*Civicist Rex Anighoro warns against the use of the civic space for false alarms and calumny

The Chairman of the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Olorogun John Obukowho Nani Esq has hosted the Delta State Civil Society Actors Community in his office at the Commission’s Headquarters.

In his speech, Chief Nani said the Board and Management of DESOPADEC is ready to work in synergy with the Civil Society, nothing that Civil Society groups are those persons who are prepared to say the truth when they see the truth, emphasizing that the activities of the Commission are not shrouded in secrecy.

"Everything that is being done in DESOPADEC is open and the activities of the Board are published twice in both print and electronic media. We also have Face of DESOPADEC in the person of Daddy Showkey; DESOPADEC NEWS bulletin which comes out monthly and Opa Williams who runs the activities of DESOPADEC on electronic Media twice in a Month.

”I don't think that the man who claimed to be a member and soiled the name of your civil Society group by writing to disparage the hard, open and transparent work of the Board of DESOPADEC is a member of the group,” Chief Nani said.

Earlier in his address, the Coordinator of Forums of Delta State NGO's and Founding Coordinator Delta State Civil Society Community, Deacon Okezi Odugala had commended the good work the Commission has been doing after having gone round some of the notable projects in some oil bearing communities.

"It is gladdening to State that we visited schools, health centers, markets (most especially the floating market which is first of its kind in Africa, in the coastal community of Ogheye), development of new towns, a DESOPADEC skills Academy, de-silting of Canals recently in the mandate areas to check mate flood problems. Worthy of note is the Commission's participation in mitigating Climate Change and engaging with local and international partners in environmental sustainability initiative as a forefront interventionists Agency in the just concluded COP28 in Dubai 2024.

"We wish to use this medium to equivocally state that a recent publication by Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) requesting DESOPADEC to furnish some information is ill advised and potentially counterproductive. It was an attempt at blackmail for personal pecuniary gains. We are here to partner with and encourage DESOPADEC to remain focused and resolute in delivering the good service and infrastructure to oil bearing communities. We therefore today, after our independent monitoring and partnership, Pass a vote of confidence on DESOPADEC as we task the Commission to do more in the programmes and projects delivery," Deacon Odugala said.

In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Delta State on Civic Engagement and Civil Society, Civicist Rex Anighoro commended the Management of the Commission for the good work and urged them not to lose focus on their mandate in developing the Oil bearing communities of the state and called on those who wish to distract the Commission to look elsewhere. He called on the leadership of the Civil Society in the State to ensure that Civil Society Actors in State embrace self regulation for the sector and refrain from using the civic space for the narrow pursuits through false alarms and calumny.

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of Plaque of votes of confidence to the Chairman and the dressing of both Chairman and MD/CEO with the Civil Society's aprons.

Other Board members present at the meeting were the MD/CEO, Chief Festus Ochonogor; EDFA, Chief Oghenekome Okpobor; EDPRS, Hon. Nicholas Efele amongst others.⁰