Isoko Youth Assembly has called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to prevail on the management of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) under Bashorun Askia Ogieh to ensure even distribution of the monthly N10 million Social Security Vote meant for Isoko youth groups.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area, Comrade Onoriode Omagufi, President of the Isoko Youth Assembly (IYA) said that members of the youth group would no longer tolerate being sidelined in the distribution of the fund being the only legally registered youth body in the Isoko nation.

Comrade Omagufi, who alleged that part of the funds has been pocketed by some undisclosed elements, said that the body would not fold its arms and watch while some persons feed fat from the fund meant for the youth bodies.

He claimed that currently only three million (N3 million) shared between two youth groups was reportedly being disbursed from the N10 million since the inception of the current management of the oil Commission alleging that about N6 million is either stolen or swallowed by snake, cat, rat or monkey till date.

While urging the governor to ensure that the Youth group(IYA) gets its fair share of the fund, Comr. Omagufi who is a former Super Eagles International said that of the fund two unregistered youth bodies, Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA ) receives Three Million Naira (N3,000,000.00), while Isoko National Youth Council (INYC) gets One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) every month.

According to Comrade Omagufi, “the remaining Six Million Naira (N6, 000,000.00) is being swallowed by snake, cat, rat, or monkey till date.”

Drawing the attention of the governor to the development, he said; “as a youth leader who hails from the most peaceful ethnic extraction of our dear State, the leadership of this noble body craves your indulgence and wishes to use this rare opportunity to draw your kind attention to a specific prevailing issue ravaging the youths as it concerns how the Ten Million Naira (#10,000,000) Social Security Vote accruing to the coffers of Isoko youth monthly from the Delta State Government through the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) whereby only two purported youth groups have been benefiting from it all these years.”

He added that “as a youth leader whose ears are pinned to the ground on how His Excellency has been working tirelessly to ensure that development through infrastructure, peace and tranquility reign within the state.

“I however humbly plead with your kind office to see how this specific aforementioned fund can be evenly and adequately disbursed to accommodate all the groups so as to arrest any possible youth restiveness in Isoko nation resulting from the current unfair distribution of the fund as we believed strongly that peace is priceless.”

Comrade Omagufi however commended the governor over the moves to award the Emevor -Orogun road, which he said is one of the priority projects to the people of Emevor and Isoko in general and urged the Commissioner representing the Isoko nation on the Board of DESOPADEC, Dr (Barr) Paul Oweh, “not to relent in his good efforts to follow up this long-awaited and important contract until it is awarded”.

Omaguli appealed to the state government to expedite action on the award of the project in order to ameliorate the suffering of the people of the area.

While expressing his commitment to continue to champion the course of the youth body, he disclosed that plans were on to launch the ‘Isoko Youth Foundation’ to cater for the welfare needs of the youths as well as serve as a platform for voluntary community and humanitarian services. (Daily Independent)