In Chapter 16 of the Amb. Dr. Jerry Abiri authored book: "Mr. 13% Derivation Fund: The Life and Legacy of Chief (Dr.) Wellington O. Okirika CON", Chief A.K. Horsfall, chairman of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) wrote about Chief Dr. Wellington Okirika (JP): "He is a man of ventures. If you give him a task, you can go to sleep. But if he opposes you on a matter of conviction, you won't sleep. He will keep coming at you, not with hostility, but with persuasion and truth."

That description of the pioneer chairman of the pioneer chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), who is popularly known as Mr. 13% Derivation Fund, prettily sums the ideals and disposition of the Bolowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom whose activism birthed not only the popular 13% derivation, but also the creation of Warri South-West Local Government Council among other achievements. 

Below is the full testimony of Chief Horsfall, culled from Chapter 16 of the  titled "The Builder and the Bridge". Excerpts:

To understand the profound impact of Chief Dr. Wellington Okirika, one must also hear from those who journeyed alongside him—architects of vision, fellow warriors of advocacy, and men of unyielding principle. Among them is Chief A.K. Horsfall—a legal luminary, a specialist in security intelligence, and the former chairman of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC). Chief Horsfall remains a towering voice for justice, equity, and the empowerment of the downtrodden. 

"I am a believer in truth, fairness, and justice," he declared with quiet pride, "And Chief Okirika is the embodiment of those same values. We fought the same battle, for the same people, with the same unwavering conviction."

As chairman of OMPADEC, Horsfall was tasked with a monumental responsibility to establish the foundational systems for sustainable development across the oil-rich Niger Delta. Under his leadership, the Commission embarked on dual tracks—the human development and physical infrastructure—and laid the groundwork for much of the region's progress. Yet, progress never comes without resistance. 

"There were always negative elements," he noted, "those who could not stomach development reaching the marginalized part of this country."

And in those moments of resistance, Chief Wellington Okirika rose, not as a mere supporter, but as a field marshal of the people's cause. 

"Okirika was the man who met every challenge head-on," Horsfall recalled. "He led traditional rulers, opinion leaders, and community representatives to Abuja time and again, making our case directly to the highest authorities, including the late General Sani Abacha."

According to Horsfall, while he conceived the policy for what would become the 13% derivation fund, it was Okirika who galvanized the movement on the ground. 

"I was the idea," he said, "but Okirika was the legman. He did the field work. His persistence, determination, and doggedness turned our idea into national policy."

That unrelenting commitment wasn't confined to political lobbying. Okirika was also one of OMPADEC's most trusted and successful contractors. One of the notable projects, according to Chief Horsfall, was the construction of what is believed to be the longest jetty in West Africa, possibly, the Oporoza Jetty in Delta State. 

"When you give Okirika an assignment, he delivers," said Horsfall. "He makes his money, yes—but then reinvests it into the Niger Delta struggle. He channels his profits into purpose."

To Chief Horsfall, this made Okirika not only a reliable executor, but a visionary partner. "He is a man of ventures. If you give him a task, you can go to sleep. But if he opposes you on a matter of conviction, you won't sleep. He will keep coming at you, not with hostility, but with persuasion and truth."

Despite their many victories, Horsfall acknowledged that the original vision has been muddied by the political realities of today. "The 13% derivation was never meant to be at the disposal of state governors. It was designed for the oil-producing communities themselves. That's what we worked for."

Yet, he remains philosophical, refusing to dwell on personal disappointment. "Governance is not permanent. It is not personal. We have done our duty. The battle has passed, even if the vision has been misinterpreted."

In an heartfelt advisory, he added, "I would tell Okirika: calm down in the next few years. Let the younger generation rise. We've done our part. Life is a process—and you can proudly say, like Admiral Nelson did, 'I have done my duty'." 

And so, from one architect of the Niger Delta vision to another, Chief A.K.Horsfall affirms what many have come to know: that Chief Wellington Okirika is not merely a fighter or a reformer. He is the bridge between ideas and action. He is the bridge between vision and realization—a relentless servant of the people whose legacy continues to shape the tides of justice and development across the oil-producing heartlands of Nigeria.

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