The Concerned Stakeholders of the Ondo State Oil Producing Communities have read with deep concern a recent publication purporting to raise a “dichotomy” between the Governor of Ondo State and some important Stakeholders on one hand and the Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) on the other hand.
The publication is a calculated attempt to mislead the public, whip up unnecessary sentiment, and divert attention from the real issues confronting OSOPADEC under its current leadership by some paid agents who are acting the script of the Chairman of OSOPADEC.
Contrary to the insinuations contained in the said write-up, there is no dichotomy between the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the Chairman, of the Ondo State Oil-producing Areas Development Commission,OSOPADEC- Mr Biyi Poroye.
In appointing Mr Poroye as Chairman of OSOPADEC, Mr Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa jettissioned agitation from his Kinsmen of Ugbo extraction of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State by considering Biyi Poroye who is from the Mahin axis of the Mahin/Aheri/Etikan Constituency of Ilaje.
What practically exists, rather, is a growing concern over the unwillingness and inability of the Chairman of OSOPADEC, Mr. Biyi Poroye, to effectively discharge his responsibilities coupled with morbid desperation to corner the wealth of the Agency without putting a single structure of project on the ground.
The reality is that the Chairman's operational model is in sharp contrast with Governor Aiyedatiwa's development vision.
It is a matter of verifiable record that the Governor has approved several projects and mobilization funds for OSOPADEC. Unfortunately, the Chairman has consistently refused to mobilize contractors, even where approvals are fully in place. Yet, he proceeds to the media to announce fictitious project activities that are not visible on ground.
For clarity:
Naval Security post projects at Odun Oyinbo, Apata, Ebighan,Atijere were approved with 30% mobilization.
School furniture projects for Primary and Secondary Schools in the riverine Communities were approved with 50% mobilization.
These approvals were duly cleared by the State Executive Council in November of last year.
Till date, contractors have not been mobilized.
Credible information available to stakeholders indicates that the Chairman allegedly insists on upfront settlements before releasing funds to contractors. This conduct has reportedly scared away several contractors and stalled development projects across oil-producing communities.
Equally disturbing is the Chairman’s continued effort to sideline the Secretary of the Commission, who is the statutory accounting officer. The Chairman has reportedly attempted to:
Exclude the Secretary from procurement processes;
Prevent the Secretary from signing cheques and payment schedules;
Centralize financial control in a manner inconsistent with public service rules and Ondo State Procurement Law
The unilateral announcement of a so-called restructuring of OSOPADEC bureaucratic structure, carried out,last week by the Chairman of OSOPADEC,without the involvement of the Board or the Secretary, further underscores a pattern of disregard for due process and institutional governance. It was act intended to completely edge out the Secretary from carrying out her statutory functions in order to give the Chairman a free hand to operate without check.
Before the Chairman assumed office, the Governor approved the renovation of 21 primary and secondary schools, out of which 15 were completed. The remaining projects have since been abandoned.
Similarly, payments meant for aged and vulnerable persons in the oil-producing communities were suspended for months and only partially restored with payment of only one month stipend last week by Mr Poroye, following the recent protests embarked upon by some concerned Stakeholders of the Oil Producing Communities.
These facts clearly show that the present challenges within OSOPADEC are not the result of political sabotage, but of administrative inertia, poor leadership choice, and alleged financial impropriety.
The attempt to frame this situation as a political conspiracy against the Chairman is therefore baseless and misleading.
The oil-producing communities demand development, transparency, and accountability—not propaganda designed to cover up failure.
In fact, Governor Aiyedatiwa should be well praised for being very fair and considerate in the appointment of Mr Poroye Biyi who is neither from the Oil producing Community of Ilaje nor from the impacted Community in Ilaje. Mahintedo where Poroye Biyi hails is on the same terrain with Okitipupa and Odigbo.
We urge the public to disregard the false narrative of dichotomy and focus instead on the urgent need for effective leadership and responsible management at OSOPADEC.
Signed:
Concerned Stakeholders of the Ondo State Oil Producing Communities
Spokesperson: Comrade Ayantuga Teledalase, writes from Peteinu, Mahin, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.