By Egufe Yafugborhi

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, held a closed door meeting with the HRM, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri,  to  rub minds on the Itsekiri’s  position on  the new law on the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC.

Okowa

The governor was led to the palace by member representing Warri Federal Constituency, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju, and  according to  a  source,  Okowa  told the Olu  he had penciled a palace chief for the Itsekiri top spot in the DESOPADEC Board to be constituted.

The  source said, “The Olu told Okowa and Reyenieju that he did not know the nominee mentioned, and that he would  prefer a non-partisan representative. A certain name, Victor Wood, currently working in an oil major, was mentioned.

“The Olu further advised Okowa not to undermine the Igba of Warri, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, in negotiating the interest of the Itsekiri  as it affects DESOPADEC” .

The governor was said to have left, promising the Olu to look into his advice and recommendation.

The visit  was said to have been provoked by the hardline posture  of Lori-Ogbebor to drag  Delta  State government to court with  the intent to abolish DESOPADEC.

The activist argued  that the the law, which grants DESOPADEC 50% of the accrued 13% derivation fund to Delta, was unconstitutional to the extent of its contradiction  of  the Nigerian Constitution which, she believes, supports 100% of  the derivation being used for the development of only oil producing areas of the state.