Group condemns calls for removal of DESOPADEC boss

Petroleum-Bearing communities in Delta Central District yesterday protested against calls on the state government to remove the Managing Director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and three other officials of the agency.

They, under the aegis of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), in a statement yesterday, said calls for the removal of Dr. William Makinde and the three commissioners representing the Urhobo ethnic nationality, was in bad taste and ran contrary to the spirit of even development of the state.

The group, therefore, urged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to disregard the calls.The statement, signed by the group’s chairman, Mr. Akponofuo Pemu Festus, said: “Urhobo needs development. Therefore, we call on the Governor Okowa to ignore their calls. We cannot fold our arms and allow some impostors to take over our responsibilities.”

Those calling for the removal of Makinde are not members of HOSTCOM. And so they cannot dictate to us,” the statement further read. It would be recalled that another group had in the recent past demanded the removal of the DESOPADEC Managing Director for alleged corrupt practices.

Festus said those calling for the sack of Makinde and the three commissioners did not mean well for the Urhobo nation and therefore, warned that from henceforth, anyone found impersonating the body will be dealt with.

He said, “We don’t know these people claiming to be HOSTCOM members, they are impostors.”Also speaking, Mr. Samco Ese, said they will not accept the removal of Dr. Makinde and three others because members of Oil and Gas Association do not have the right to call for their removal.

He said the action of the detractors was responsible for the lack of development in Urhobo land and vehemently called on the state government to ignore their calls.