The Executive Director of Social Services in the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission (DESOPADEC) alongside the Commissioner representing Ijaw ethnic nationality, Spencer Okpoye on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to Ijaw traditional rulers in the state.
The visit held at the private residence of the Chairman Ijaw Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Capt. Joseph Timiyan, The Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, in Warri, Delta State.
Addressing the monarchs, Okpoye said the visit was to first familiarise with the Council as well as seeking the blessings of “our fathers” as we commence work.
Okpoye added that the place of the royal fathers in the success of their administration cannot be overemphasized and as such, it was expedient for both parties to work in sync towards achieving success.
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The Commissioner stressed that Ijaws from all mandated areas will be carried along in the scheme of things by his office.
He said;
“This is a familiarisation visit and also he visit to seek your royal blessings and advise that will guide us to succeed in the assignment we have been chosen to deliver on.
“We also pray for your continued support so that we can make you proud in the job we have been asked to do. We’re very much ready to do things differently to ensure that dividends of democracy get to all our mandate areas.
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“As an interventionist agency, we’ll key into the MORE Agenda of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration to see that projects, human capital development and all that Ijaw ethnic nationality supposed to benefit gets to the grassroots.
“We’re about populating the budget and we cannot do that without your input so that mandate areas will suggest important projects to us to be added to the budget for execution,” Okpoye added.
The Commissioner also revealed that the Commission will soon commence a tour on projects monitoring, promising that new projects will be given the needed measures to see that they are not abandoned.
On his part, Izoukumor called to mind that without the efforts of traditional institutions, intervention agencies like DESOPADEC may not have come to limelight.
Noting that the agitations of the monarch have born fruit, he thanked the Council for their continued support to the Delta State Government in times past, and sought for the same support for the incumbent administration.
Aligning himself with the position of the Commissioner, Izuokumor said;
“We seek your continued support and voice. We’re your children and you’ve sent us. By God’s grace and your guidance, we will be victorious.
“I thank you believing that you will continue to support us, the board and the incumbent administration for us to function efficiently,” he said.
Advising the duo, The Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom charged them to award people-oriented projects and ensure that proper monitoring is done to ensure that such projects are completed by contractors.
Agbonu also advised against the delay in the payment of contractors who have completed their jobs, a scenario he said has been associated with the Commission overtime.
Traditional rulers of Akugbene-mein, Ogbolubiri, Tarakiri, Kabo, Operemor, Eseimbiri, and Egbema kingdoms were also present at the meeting.
