…Such claim not only false but vexatious, Ogbokor-Etaluku, INYA President    

By Gbenga Nicholas

The Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA) has refuted the claim by Isoko Development Union (IDU), Youth Wing, who recently alleged that Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC of owing them N80 million Social Security Funds, describing it as not only false but vexatious, unfortunate, devious and dubious.

According to INYA, neither the State Government nor DESOPADEC owing the Isoko youths any amount of money at the moment. On the contrary, all the financial entitlements due to the youths have been paid till date.

Speaking through a statement dated Wednesday August 25, 2021 and signed by the President of Isoko National Youth Assembly Worldwide, Comrade Amos Ogbokor-Etaluku, the group noted that the allegations are not only false but vexatious, unfortunate, devious and dubious.

Its statement read in parts; “As President and members of the Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA), the apex socio-cultural youth group in Isoko Nation, we have been greeted with a shocking communiqué circulating online purportedly issued by a spurious group that call themselves “Isoko Development Union- Youth Wing (IDU-YW)” casting aspersions on the Delta State government, and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and making unfounded allegations that the State government is owing them the sum of N80,000,000.00 (Eighty Million Naira) for social security.

“These allegations are not only false, vexatious, unfortunate, devious and dubious, they are tantamount to placing the cordial relationship the youth demography in Isoko Nation has enjoyed with the state government in jeopardy.

The group explained that the allegations exists only in the figment of imagination of some few insignificant number of youths.

“We hereby state categorically that neither the State government nor DESOPADEC is owing the Isoko Youths any amount of money at the moment. On the contrary, all the financial entitlements due to the Isoko Youths have been paid till date.

“The allegations that the government and DESOPADEC are owing Isoko Youths some amount of money exists only in the figment of imagination of some few insignificant number of youths whose mission is to foment trouble in Isoko land.

“The president of our association was the secretary in the administration preceding this current administration. He can attest to the fact that since His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa assumed office, his plans and policy have been favourable to youths across Delta State and the Isoko youths have not been left behind.

“The Isoko youths are in synergy with the state government in policy issues that affect us. There are photographs of our meetings with the State governor, MD/CEO of DESOPADEC as well as other officers of the State to buttress this synergy.”

He noted that INYA have consistently collected the money earmarked for social security from DESOPADEC for countless number of years.

“INYA is an organization with history and heritage, recognized both by the past military government and by the present day civilian government. We have consistently collected the money earmarked for social security from DESOPADEC for countless number of years.

“If the purported IDU-YW say they are entitled to N80,000,000.00 (Eighty Million Naira), calculated as N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) monthly as social security for eight months, they should show us evidence of their collecting money meant for social security in previous months or years before the government started owing them for eight months.

“A group of young and prodigal persons cannot just wake up one morning from the wrong side of the bed, call themselves a spurious name and start laying claims to government’s money.” They concluded.

The President said the group disassociates itself from any form of threat of violence to oil companies in Isoko Nation.

“On the strength of the above, they thus declared; we as the recognized youth body in Isoko land hereby disassociate ourselves from any form of threat of violence to Oil companies in Isoko Nation; and to the process of the forthcoming Isoko South Constituency 1 Election.

“We did not threaten to shut down oil facilities on the basis of being owed any amount of money by the State government. Isoko Nation is peaceful. We will never disrupt an electioneering process; neither are we going to disturb citizens in the exercise of their franchise. On this note, I want to implore the oil facilities operators and political parties campaigns organizers to go about their activities without any form of fear. We are hereby calling on the Government and security agencies to deal decisively with any agent of chaos and underdevelopment who are to cause violence in Isoko land.” They concluded.

ALSO READ: Isoko youths threaten to shut down oil facilities over non payment of N80m DESOPADEC Security Fund

It would recalled that GbaramatuVoice had earlier reported that Isoko Development Union, IDU, Youth Wing, weekend, told the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, to address with immediate effect, the issue of non-release of N80 million social security funds allegedly owed them by the commission, failing which it would commence a total lockdown of oil facilities in Isoko nation.

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