Desopadec: Isoko youths demand immediate payment of 80m security funds or ready for fresh hostilities

By Timi Black, WARRI

Delta State youths under ISOKO Development Union, IDU, Youth Wing, have called on the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, to immediately pay the sum of N80 million social security funds allegedly owed them by the commission. The youths threatened that failure to make the payment would midwife a total lockdown of oil facilities in the Isoko Nation.

This was contained in a press statement issued to newsmen during the weekend by the leadership of the group.

The group while declaring a showdown said no political rally or campaign would “be allowed to hold in Isoko Nation starting from the forthcoming bye-election of Isoko South Constituency 1″ if the issue is not addressed.

The youths in a communique issued at Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, after its general assembly meeting, asked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to use his good office to mandate the Commission to pay Isoko youths their Social Security funds from January to date.

The communique which was signed by the body’s President, Comrade Ede Hyacinth Ewariezi and Secretary, Comrade Unuafe Sunday Edewor, added that the continued silence by the Governor “of not granting the leadership of Isoko Development Union audience and appointment has empowered” the Commission “to aid and abet discord and disunity in Isoko Nation.”

The youths who later staged a peaceful protest at the IDU Secretariat noted in the communique, that; “the deliberate disregard for the leadership of Isoko IDU, the apex Socio-Cultural body of Isoko Nation by the Governor and the Commission is an unwholesome development which will no longer be tolerated forthwith.”

The Isoko youths, stressed the need for Okowa and the commission to give due regard and respect to Isoko Development Union without further delay.

It also urged the Governor to break the silence “regarding these issues raised to ensure Isoko Nation has peace and live in unity in line with his peace agenda.”

The communique stressed : “We wish to state categorically that failure to address these issues as earlier raised with immediate effect, the youths of Isoko Ethnic Nationality would commence a total lockdown of Oil facilities in Isoko Nation and no political rally or campaign will be allowed to hold in Isoko Nation starting from the forthcoming bye-election of Isoko South Constituency 1.”