The ongoing tirade by contractors in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, is gathering momentum as members of the DESOPADEC Ijaw Ethnic Nationality Contractors Forum, which comprises of the kingdoms of Ogulagha, Gbaramatu, Egbema, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri, Diebiri, Iduwini and Kou, have countered the remarks of another contractors forum it alleged is a cabal of the Commission's staff operating in the name and style of the indigenous contractors forum.

The Forum's counter statement is contained in a letter addressed to the DESOPADEC MD/CEO Chief Festus Ochonogor, and signed by its Chairman, Pst. Hon. Ako Samuel, Secretary Hon. Akiefa Godspower and by Comr. Felix Osaine, with copies made to other stakeholders of the Commission including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

In response to a publication made by those it referred to as "self-styled DESOPADEC contractors" in an online media dated 18th June, 2025, the Forum called on the Delta State Governor and the DESOPADEC Board to disregard the 6-point demands earlier raised by the DESOPADEC Ijaw Ethnic Nationality Contractors Forum in an open letter.

While reaffirming the authenticity of the Forum whose members are not only drawn from "respective oil and gas producing kingdoms", but are duly recognised by officials of the Commission, who, themselves, are indigenes of oil-producing kingdoms, stated that, in contrast, the secretary of the "self-styled DESOPADEC contractors" is not from any of the oil-producing kingdoms in the State.

In the letter, the Forum also alleged that the real contractors were being shortchanged by the "cabal" whose actions have resulted in untimely demise of contractors arising from huge accumulated debts incurred, that have led to contracts being abandoned.

The letter reads in part, "We are the DESOPADEC Ijaw Ethnic Nationality Contractors Forum, comprises of Ogulagha Kingdom, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Egbema Kingdom, Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, Diebiri Kingdom, Iduwini Kingdom and Kou Kingdom respectively.

"Ordinarily, we do not intend to join issues or trade words with the above subject matter dated 18th June, 2025 reported by www.oasismagazine.com, by the so called DESOPADEC Contractors Forum who are a cabal of staff in the name and style of DESOPADEC indigenous contractors forum in collaboration with some personalities which we do not want to mention now but for the sake of Deltans and the general public we want to set the records straight.

"We are not self-acclaimed Ijaw Ethnic Nationality Contractors Forum but duly recognized and drawn its members from our respective oil and gas producing kingdoms aforementioned above," they stated.

Continuing, the Forum said, "We are aware of the organized business going on by this self-styled contractors, using that cabal forum to pay themselves every month each time monies are transmitted to the Commission to the detriment of the real oil-producing community contractors thereby denying them of payment with huge backlog of certificates raised for payment and this has led to very huge debt burden, some properties confiscated while others are taken to court and even some have been sent to untimely grave due to the wickedness of this so called cabal who call themselves indigenous contractors.

"The worst part of it is that this so called indigenous contractors forum in the name of moderation will collect 10% bargained from each contractor they paid behind the scene. They are a syndicate organization pursuing their selfish interest.

"We want to clearly state that the so-called Prince Charles Ebighagha whom they claimed to be their secretary is not recognized by any member of our oil-producing kingdoms. This is a man from Kiagbodo and not from any of the oil-producing kingdoms.

"Their claim of being recognized and having the backing of Ijaw Representatives in the Commission in persons of Chief Favour. O. Izoukumor E.D. Social Services and Hon. Spencer Okpoye, Commissioner in the so called group is an attempt to mislead Deltans and the general public. The E.D. Social Services and the Commissioner representing Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Commission knows our forum very well as a notable organization because they are also indigenes from the above mentioned kingdoms," the Forum added.

Speaking further, the Forum insisted  that they stood by their earlier position as declared in the 6-point demands raised, and urged Governor Oborevwori to not allow his good name to be soiled by the corrupt elements in the Commission.

"By this therefore, we stand by our six-point agenda as stated in our letter of 16th June, 2025. The letter is hereby attached for your ease of reference. We also want to use this medium to thank the governor for releasing funds to the Commission and should not allow bad eggs to spoil his administration of the MORE Agenda.

"In the light of the above, we wish to state unequivocally that our position should not be treated with disdain, levity and triviality. A word is enough for the wise," the Forum counseled.

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