ASABA/Nigeria: Mr. Okezi Odugala, Executive Director of the Eziodu Initiative for Sustainable Environmental Development, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), strongly criticized calls to scrap the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) for alleged underperformance.
Odugala while addressing newsmen on Friday, May 10, 2024 vehemently opposed Mr. Kehinde Taiga, President of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, who had called for DESOPADEC’s dismantling due to what he described as its failure to meet expectations.
Describing DESOPADEC as a pivotal interventionist agency, Odugala highlighted its crucial role in delivering numerous infrastructural projects across oil-bearing communities in the state. He questioned the rationale behind dismantling an agency that had made significant contributions to the development of these communities.
He also challenged Taiga’s assertion, questioning whether the representative from Taiga’s ethnic group within DESOPADEC had failed to contribute to projects in their region. Odugala emphasized the importance of constructive criticism over baseless accusations, urging critics to support DESOPADEC’s management in fulfilling the development objectives set by the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration.
Speaking highly of the DESOPADEC board appointees, Odugala praised their professional expertise and communal service records, labeling them as individuals with commendable success stories in both public and private sectors. He particularly commended Chief John Nani, the commission’s chairman, as a respected leader whose legacy should not be undermined by unwarranted attacks.
Odugala urged critics to engage constructively, suggesting that CSOs should work within the confines of the law to partner in the sustainable development of Delta State. He emphasized the need for critics to propose viable alternatives and collaborate with DESOPADEC’s management and stakeholders to ensure the agency’s success in fulfilling its mandate.
In response to Taiga’s criticism that DESOPADEC had only executed shadow projects, Odugala defended the commission, stating that it was on the right path to realizing its mandate of intervening in oil-bearing communities. He called for unity and support from all stakeholders, highlighting the importance of collective efforts in achieving peace, unity, and prosperity in Delta State.
Taiga, on the other hand, insisted that DESOPADEC’s projects lacked tangible impact and advocated for the agency’s restructuring. He proposed clustering communities within DESOPADEC’s catchment areas to ensure more effective development initiatives.
