The Delta State chapter of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas has risen in defence of the immediate-past governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, over allegation that he diverted half of the 13 per cent derivation fund accruable to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.
The PUNCH reported last week that some representatives of oil and gas producing communities in Delta State stormed the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja last Thursday to protest against alleged misappropriation of over N1tn oil derivation fund belonging to the state during the Okowa administration.
But the Delta HOSTCOM, on Thursday, in a statement by its Chairman, Sunday Enujeke; and Secretary, Joseph Lamienghan,described last week’s protest against Okowa as politically-motivated.
Delta HOSTCOM said they “consider the orchestrated campaign as a calculated attempt to mislead, confuse and invite the unsuspecting public against the person of Dr Okowa by his traducers.”
According to the group, the 13 per cent Oil Derivation Fund earmarked for the development of oil and gas bearing communities in Delta State “had been judiciously used by the immediate-past administration in the state.”
Delta HOSTCOM appealed to Ijaw elder statesman, Edwin Clark “not to allow himself to be used by these political hustlers and desperate power mongers seeking to settle cheap political scores.”
Furthermore, Delta HOSTCOM called on incumbent Governor Sheriff Oborevwori “to build on the infrastructural development agenda of the immediate-past administration by putting in place tangible physical development for the teeming residents of the creeks in the Delta riverine areas.”
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