By Charles Kumolu

WARRI—Niger Delta activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has said that she would not back down on her ultimatum to the Delta State Government to repeal the Delta State Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC law, recently signed by the state governor, noting that no amount of propaganda would make her to do so.

CHIEF RITA LORI-OGBEBOR

She noted that she had instructed her lawyers to write the state House of Assembly to make available, the record of budgetary allocation to the commission since it was established.

Briefing newsmen, yesterday, in Lagos, she challenged the state government to provide evidence of how the commission had impacted positively on Deltans.

He said: “Governor Ifeanyi Okowa worked against the proposed controversial amendment of the DESOPADEC bill before assumption of office and the bill was thrown away. He later put up his bill and it was quickly passed in a big rush without letting the people who actually produce the oil in the riverine areas know what he was talking about.

“The so called public hearing was rushed. Even people like us were not given the opportunity to make our contribution. The controversial bill was eventually passed into law and it is a senseless law that will divide Delta State as usual. Divide and rule is the practice of all governments in the state because of ethnic diversity.   I have nothing personal against the government, I am only interested in how the lives of my people can be bettered.

“Two days ago, one Mr Ofoburuku and Tonye boasted on television that   DESOPADEC has done so much for the people and were prepared to take any body to the oil producing areas to see   the wonderful work they have done. I jump to accept this offer to see this wonderful work supposedly done by DESOPADEC.  However, if that is not done, I will take the media, government officials and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to the oil producing areas.

“My lawyers have been instructed to write to the Delta State House of Assembly to submit the budget to us since the creation of DESOPADEC. With this, we shall be able to marry the jobs on ground with money spent.”