President General of the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), Brig. Gen. Mike Ndubisi, has lamented the absence of tangible development projects in Ndokwa land, accusing the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Managing Director, Festus Ochonogor, of poorly representing the interests of the Ndokwa people.
Brig. Gen. Ndubusi made the accusation against the DESOPADEC boss when he led the leadership of the NNU to visit Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, at the Government House, Asaba.
Expressing gratitude to Gov. Oborevwori in keeping to the rotational principle of the headship of DESOPADEC by appointing an Ndokwa son as the chief executive of the interventionist agency, however expressed dissatisfaction with the agency’s performance under Ochonogor.
“Apart from the monthly stipend being given to some privileged youths, there is no visible evidence of the presence of DESOPADEC in the Ndokwa Nation. The Ndokwa Nation pleads with you to direct the DESOPADEC managing director to bring massive development to Ndokwa land, most likely as his predecessors from other ethnic nationalities did during their tenure,” the NNU president said.
Responding, Gov. Sheriff Oborewori, reaffirmed his commitment to non-interference in the affairs of the DESOPADEC, advising the Ndokwa people to engage their representatives in the commission.
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“On the issue of DESOPADEC, I don’t interfere with what they do. You have the managing director. So, you sit with your son and say, look, this is what we want. Ordinarily, we have the commissioners representing the ethnic nationalities and also the executive directors, and you have the managing director,” he said.
The governor stressed that commission’s representatives, including the managing director are appointed to serve the interests of their communities.
“The ethnic nationalities have a budget. In that budget, they look at what is more important to their people, and that is what they put there. They are not representing themselves; they are sent there to represent the ethnic nationalities. If those representing your ethnic nationalities are not doing well, call them because other ethnic nationalities have their own interests,” Gov. Oborewori stated.
