Itsekiri, Urhobo Groups to FG: Use Recovered 4.2m Pounds Funds Solely For Federal Projects In Delta

Peace Joshua and Benedicta Obosherinor in Warri

The London-based Itsekiri Congress UK (ICUK) and Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) have suggested to the Federal Government to utilise the recovered 4.2m pounds returned by the British Government solely for development of federal projects in Delta State.

While Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) maintained that the recovered funds be spent on Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) Effurun and the take-off of the proposed Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, both in Urhoboland, the Itsekiri Congress UK (ICUK) said the money be utilised on meaningful and life transforming projects in the state.

President, Barrister Dede Ukuti and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sheyi Mackson Ejejigbe of ICUK said in a statement yesterday that though it was against the recovered funds being returned to the coffers of the Delta State Government, which had at that time denied that its funds were looted, it however, opposed plans by the Federal Government to expend the recovered funds to develop projects outside the state.

It argued that there are several Federal Government's abandoned projects in Delta State that the recovered funds can be used to resuscitate.

"In a Federation like Nigeria, using the funds of one of the Federating states to develop projects in another state without the consent of the state involved is not only unfair but illegal and it totally negates the very essence of Nigeria as a federation. The recovered fund belongs to Delta State and, therefore, should be invested in projects in Delta State", it stated.

The Itsekiri group noted that since the memorandum of undertaking signed with the British Government is for the funds to be released only to the Federal Government, it will, however, propose that such funds should then be used solely for developmental projects in Delta State under the supervision of the Federal Government.

"It will be foolhardy if such fund is handed back to a state government which claimed at the time that its funds were not missing."

The group flayed a situation which it described as day- light robbery of justice and promotion of oppressive tendencies if the recovered funds from Delta State were used to develop other states of the country to the detriment of Deltans whom it alleged had been deprived of good governance since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999 till date.

"We believe the people from oil and gas producing communities deserve the best and they must be compensated with meaningful and life transforming projects. The Niger-Delta region and Deltans have been marginalised for ages, it will only make sense for resources recovered from the region to be used to execute projects in the region and state to avoid another round of agitations and maintain the relative peace currently enjoyed in the region which has led to the high production quantum of oil and gas in the region.

"We look forward to a country devoid of corrupt practices where justice, peace, transparency and reward for hardwork take prominence over personal aggrandisement of wealth", it stated

On it part, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide in a statement also appealed to the Federal Government to use the soon-to-be-repatriated Delta State money to fund the take-off of the newly established Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area as well as Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

UPU, the apex socio-cultural umbrella body of Urhobo people, said it will amount to grave injustice for the Federal Government to use the said money to fund projects outside Delta where the money was looted.

According to the statement signed by UPU President-General, Olorogun Moses Taiga, it faulted the choice of projects the federal government had chosen to expend the money on.

Recall that the federal government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had disclosed that the money being repatriated from the United Kingdom will be used for the construction of the second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano road and Lagos-Ibadan Express Road.

END

Steer Clear from Tompolo's Pipeline Surveillance Job, Face Your Olu's Contract... Activist Warn Itsekiri Leaders

Steer Clear from Tompolo's Pipeline Surveillance Job, Face Your Olu's Contract... Activist Warn Itsekiri Leaders Niger Delta Human Rights Activist, comrade Daniel Ezekiel has berated ltsekiri leaders for calling on the Federal Government to decentralize the pipeline security contract awarded to the Niger Delta living legend, High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo alias Tompolo. The activist in a statement to FocalPoint Reports, on Thursday, reacted with displeasure and strongly condemned Itsekiri leaders Who were led by Hon. Michael Diden to call for the decentralization of Tompolo's Surveillance contract, during a visit to High Chief Bibopere Ajube (Shoot-at-sight) at his Agadagba-Obon, residence in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Ezekiel Daniel described those who visited Bibopere Ajube as self-proclaimed Itsekiri leaders and their voices are nothing good but mere distractions and should not be taken seriously. He added that the statements m...

NMU Governing Council chairman seeks solutions to challenges facing varsity

NMU Governing Council chairman seeks solutions to challenges facing varsity The Acting Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, Adewale Adeogun, has appealed for immediate action to address the pressing challenges facing the institution. Adeogun, who spoke during the council meeting in Warri, expressed deep concern over the university’s underdevelopment despite its six-year existence. Highlighting the urgent need for government intervention, Adeogun emphasised the importance of establishing a permanent campus and ensuring adequate funding. He pointed out that the university’s progress has been hindered by the suspension of projects initiated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). “It is disheartening to see that despite being a specialised university, Nigerian Maritime University is still struggling to find its footing,” Adeogun stated. “We must work tirelessly to secure gov...

Retired police officers protest over unpaid pensions

Some retired police officers under the contributory pension scheme on Tuesday, May 21, protested at the National Assembly over alleged several months of unpaid pensions with a call on President Bola Tinubu to remove them from the scheme. The protesters decried the extreme challenges they endure, saying that the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) has failed to pay their entitlements for several months causing them and their families untold hardship. The aggrieved retired police officers also wrote a Save Our Soul (SOS) letter to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, calling for an urgent intervention. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Chairman of the retirees, Christopher Effiong said many of their members have developed terminal illnesses and heart attacks as a result of the frustration associated with the scheme. In a letter dated May 21 and addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the retirees said many of their colleagues have lost their lives due to t...

FocalPoint Reports

Search This Blog