By FESTUS AHON
UGHELLI—A simmering crisis between Director- General of Delta State Direct Labour Agency, DLA and four of his directors has now blown into the open with the directors petitioning  Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the State House of Assembly over the dispute.

Although the Director General, Mr Odafe Igbini declined comments when he was approached by Vanguard, it was learnt that his four directors have complained over his alleged ‘’high handedness in the agency which had made him behave as a sole administrator.’’

In a text message to Vanguard following attempts to get his own side of the matter, Igbini had said: ‘’Please, go ahead to freely publish whatever allegations you claim are being made against me by director(s) of DLA and brought to your attention.

’’Thanks for bringing it to my notice, but as I told you, it is against my policy to respond to rumours, except they are established in writing.

’’I also do not approve of violating the fundamental rights of anyone to the freedom of expression which includes freedom of DLA director(s) to allegation(s) against me.

’’I also insist on total respect for freedom of the press.

’’Please, do report as you wish. Thanks. Comrade E. Odafe Igbini.’’

However, Vanguard gathered that the crisis in the agency started between the top officials about five months after  Igbini’s inauguration as  Chief Executive Officer of the agency, which is in charge of road maintenance in the state.

It was gathered that Igbini was accused of frustrating all administrative and production departments in the agency with sole intent of being a sole administrator.

He was also alleged to have sidetracked the organisational structures to ensure  checks and balances or due process in financial guidelines just as he allegedly cancelled regular meetings of committee of directors unilaterally.

The DLA, established by the ex-Governor James Ibori’s administration, has had four Director- Generals before the emergence of Mr Igbini.