BY Festus Ahon
UGHELLI—HOST Communities of Ekakpamre, Iwhrekan and Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have urged Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan not to consider Mr. Johnson Boro for reappointment to the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, arguing that Agbowhiame, the home town of Boro was not an oil-producing area.
The communities, in a statement by their representatives, Mr. Andrew Onovughe and others, argued that the three communities were the major oil-producing communities in Ughievwen Kingdom, insisting that one of their own should be appointed to DESOPADEC board.
Distancing themselves from a purported call on Governor Uduaghan by the Okobaro of Ughievwen Kingdom to reappoint Boro to the board, they said: “Boro doesn’t merit reappointment due to his neglect of the communities.”
Meanwhile, the Ughievwen Kingdom, in a statement issued by Chief Benson Itietie and Chief M.B Jamaho, Secretary, Ughievwen Traditional Council of Chiefs and President General, Ughievwen Union, respectively, said the kingdom has settled the rift between Chief Sunday Apah and Chief Johnson Boro.
It said: “Boro hails from Agbowhiame community, which is not a major oil-producing community but just a community classified under Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, SPDC, as impacted community. As such, he does not deserve reappointment.”
Noting that his earlier appointment was done out of the magnanimity of the deputy governor, whom they said they respected, they alleged that “Boro failed because no DESOPADEC project was included in the last budget of the commission for the three major oil-producing communities in Ughievwen.
They added: “We call on the respected royal father not to be involved in political matters because the position of DESOPADEC board membership involves three local government areas of Uvwie, Udu and Ughelli South.
“Even if it is on Ughelli South level, there are six kings and none of them have projected any of their own except politicians because they know very well that they are traditional rulers and do not belongs to any political party.”
They vowed to protest to any level if Uduaghan includes the name of Boro in the list to be sent to the state House of Assembly for reappointment and expressed their confidence in the state lawmakers.
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‘Boro doesn’t merit re-appointment into DESOPADEC board’