The Commissioner representing the Ijaw ethnic nation in the Delta State Oil-Producing Communities Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Favour Izoukumor, has read the riot act to contractors working for the commission in the Ijaw oil-bearing areas.
Chief Izoukumor, during a courtesy visits to traditional rulers of the oil-bearing Ijaw communities on Tuesday, warned that contractors that perform shoddy and wishy-washy jobs would not only have their contracts revoked, but their names would be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for further disciplinary action, blacklisting and possibly banned from future deals with the commission.
Speaking at the Warri homes and palace annexes of the Ibenanawei of Diebiri Kingdom, Chief J.G. Orubu, his counterparts from Ogulagha and Iduwini kingdoms, HRM Agbonu Torububor I and Bosu Dio Ayamabulou I respectively, as well Agadagba of Egbema, HRM Gold Tiemo; the commissioner vowed that there would be a remarkable difference in the way of doing things in DESOPADEC.
He took similar message to Gbaramatu Kingdom, where he met with the Regent, Chief P.T. Heavens and other members of the Traditional Council, including Chief Clark Gbenewei and Etoromi. He solicited the support of traditional institutions in the state in the war against illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
On the new order in the commission, he said: “It will interest you to know that during our inauguration by the Executive Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, we were given a clear mandate of making the commission to be more performance-driven and people-centred. I promise that, with your support, I will uphold this mandate in all my statutory responsibilities.
“The initiation of choice projects of communities and nomination of contractors shall be “bottom-up” approach. This means that it will no longer be business as usual whereby contractors, through their connections, put projects of their choice in budgets and end up as beneficiaries of such contracts.”
To this end, he expressed his desire to have representatives from each of the kingdoms to be nominated by the leadership of the various clans to recommend to the commission projects for consideration and execution in line with the bottom-up approach.
“As a commissioner representing you in DESOPADEC, I will not condone duplication of projects, particularly those that have no meaningful impact on the lives of the people in your communities as rightly directed by the Governor.
“Contractors who are not performing or performed poorly in terms of projects execution, will not be condoned and may be blacklisted from getting contracts from the commission.”
Meanwhile, during a visit to the Regent of Gbaramatu Kingdom, the Ijaw DESOPADEC Commissioner promised to look into the protracted issues of jobs that have been duly executed by contractors but have not been paid for.
“We are also aware that some contractors who have completed their jobs or have covered several milestones of execution are yet to be paid by the commission. We will look into such cases and see that such contractors are paid,” he assured.
While noting that contract opportunities available through the commission are now limited due to the dwindling oil price, Izoukumor expressed the desire to ensure that the benefits of available contracts are enjoyed by as many persons as possible by ensuring that same persons do not benefit severally at the expense of others. His promise is a breakaway from existing practices where ‘powerful’ contractors hijacked jobs by using pseudonyms and companies.
He, therefore, solicited the co-operation of traditional rulers in the government’s efforts to stop illegal bunkering, remarking that unless the act of economic sabotage is brought to its knees, the economy of the country could be crippled.
He assured that DESOPADEC projects in the Ijaw areas will be spread across to accommodate new and capable contractors and others who are yet to benefit.
Speaking further, he revealed that in line with the SMART agenda of Governor Okowa, emphasis will be placed on strategic wealth creation projects that will further generate employment for the teeming youths.
“This strongly implies that there will be no room for projects that will not positively impact on the people. To key into this, we shall create agricultural projects such as fishery, poultry, piggery; rice farm and plantation farm as well as skill acquisition trainings. Small-medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) will be given the pride of place in my tenure as your commissioner in DESOPADEC.”
Similarly, the commissioner revealed that physically-challenged persons and those who are living with one disability or the other would not be left behind “because there is ability in disability.
“Also, in accordance with the Governor’s agenda, we will encourage free medical care for our people as well as provision of free educational materials.
“You will all agree with me that the major challenge to the development of Ijaw communities in Delta State is lack of adequate land for settlement. This, therefore, calls for reclamation and shoreline protection of most Ijaw communities in Delta State for better settlement and environmental protection against erosion, ocean surge and other environmental hazards.
“Therefore, it is my view that since land reclamation and shoreline protection are capital intensive, the Ijaw nation can collectively agree, from its budget in DESOPADEC, to purchase two or three dredgers that will be deployed for reclamation purposes of Ijaw communities under DESOPADEC,” he said.
In their various responses, the traditional rulers commended Governor Okowa for appointing Izoukumor, stressing that it showed that the governor is a man in tune with the wish of the people.
Chief Orubo described the appointment of Izoukumor as a DESOPADEC commissioner as the right one, adding that as a “boardroom guru, a very successful businessman and a man with the right connection and technology, you are well placed.”
He, therefore, warned contractors to be wary of the new commissioner, stressing that he was not one that they could hoodwink with shoddy jobs because “Izoukumor has seen it all and has all the knowledge.”
For his part, the Ogulagha monarch advised Izoukumor to be abreast with the gimmicks used by influential persons from the non-oil bearing areas to short-change those who suffer the effects of oil exploration and exploitation.
The highpoint of the visit was the inauguration of two 18-seater buses donated by the commission to Ogulagha and Gbaramatu kingdoms. The commissioner explained that the donation was to alleviate challenges faced by schools in the communities and promised to extend the gesture to other clans as soon as more buses were procured.
The commissioner was accompanied on the trip by a former Commissioner for Environment in the state, Mr Joel Bisina Bishop, Samson Amazine, Chairman Ijaw HOSTCOm (Oil and Gas), Mr Kingsley Ekiere, Pastor Samuel Diebriri, Forcados Kingsley and Hon. Samson Oyimi, former Chairman Ogbe Ijoh Governing Council as well as a councillor, Hon. Frank Pukon.
