DESOPADEC MONEY: Call Obielum, Akozor Others To Order, Youth Leaders To Okowa

By Iteveh Ekpokpobe

A group, Ndokwa East Clan/Community Youth Presidents Forum has called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to call to order, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, Hon. Chika Ossai, Hon. Ikechukwu Akozor and Chief Godswill Obielum for allegedly diverting funds meant for Youths Leaders of Ndokwa East.

They said the Youth Leaders in Ndokwa East could no longer access the monthly N10 million naira provided by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

The group accused the leaders of diverting stipends meant for statutory Clan Youth Presidents to Non-Community Youth Presidents that are loyal to them.

They are arguing that the actions of these leaders were sidelining the authentic youth leaders in Ndokwa East as a contained in a Communiqué issued at the end of a meeting in Kwale, at the instance of Hon. Tony Ndanenu and Comr. Benjamin Onwubolu the following facts were unraveled.

According to them, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi has used his influence as Executive Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development, to shortchange and substitute the names of authentic clan youth Presidents that have been shortlisted for ambassadorial appointment, replacing them with Non Community Youth Presidents.

Amongst other claims were the exclusion of the members of the forum from the ongoing Ministry of Youth programme, ongoing for illiterates and semi illiterate Youths in the rural areas as well as the lack of appointment/ employment of virtually all Clan Youth Presidents in the forum.

The crux of the communiqué is an appeal to the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to prevail on the accused leaders for due diligence.

However, the communiqué stressed that should all entreaties fail, the forum would have no other option than to embark on massive Protest against the Delta State Government for usurping their rights.

Responding to the allegations, Commissioner representing Ndokwa East in DESOPADEC, Hon. Ikechukwu Akozor said the allegations were flimsy since he was not accused of diverting the monies for his private use.

He said other groups and youth leaders have responded to the allegations appropriately hence he would not waste his time to say more.

Although, calls and text messages placed across to Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi and Chief Godswill Obielum were neither answered nor responded to at press time, Hon. Chika Ossai in a telephone call, distanced himself from the allegation, stating that ‘I am not in DESOPADEC and do not know where and how the said money is collected.’

He urged the group to provide evidence of document of his involvement in the alleged dealings.