DESOPADEC Contractors meet Ogiame Atuwatse lll, Seek Royal Blessings

By Stephen Asaba-ase

Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Indigenous Contractors Forum on Monday visited the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse lll for royal blessings and prayers.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Chairman of the Forum, Eng. Ogie Samson, said the monarch received his Executives warmly and prayed for them to prosper in their work.

He disclosed that the visit was to show respect for the traditional ruler in the Warri kingdom and other royal fathers in the oil rich communities in Delta State.

“It was a great day, when some of the executives of the DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum went to pay homage and visit Ogiame Atuwatse lll, the Olu of Warri. The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse lll is a king with regards for Deltans, youths and humanity at large. He welcomed Indigenous Contractors with love.

“It was a visit that showed respect and honour to our traditional rulers in the Warri kingdom and other traditional rulers in the oil rich communities in Delta State. A prayer was made in the palace for all indigenes who are contractors from all the oil rich communities in Delta State.

Addressing newsmen shortly after, the Chairman of the Forum, Engr Ogie Samson said the visit was to show that Indigenous Contractors were to be seen as primary beneficiaries of dividends of proceeds from the 13% derivation through direct award of contracts to indigenes.

Ogie said this was also to make leaders understand that contracts given to Indigenous Contractors from across the oil rich region would be properly delivered with quality jobs since they are part of the host communities.

He maintained that if properly funded and without politics, DESOPADEC would be part of the strategies to empower indigenous contractors and for human capital development which will make Delta State more lucrative and developed.

While commending the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for his outstanding achievements since he assumed office, he however again sought for an audience to enable his members to intimate him about challenges confronting them in the discharge of their contracts.

“Though, we believe the present Governor is trying his best for the good of Deltans. It is not out of place to hear directly from Indigenous Contractors to know what exactly Indigenes who are contractors are going through and how to resolve areas of challenges, as this act has led to misinformation leading to mistakes of past governors in regards to Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development c
Commission (DESOPADEC)”, he added.

Engr Ogie Samson said, “we believe in diplomacy and this is why we are trying our best to ensure peace, maturity and honesty in this DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum regime and we know indigenes who are contractors will be blessed by God’s Grace”