Urhobo HOSTCOM Protest Suspension of Agoyo As They Call On Gov. Okowa To lnvestigate , How Isibeluo Embezzled N325 Million Meant To Purchase Buses, ICT Training For Youths of HOSTCOM

By Wilson Macaulay

Warri

Members of the the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing  oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) Urhobo Ethnic Nationality yesterday ,Thursday August 12th 2021  at the  HOSTCOM Secretariat , Uti street off PTI road Effurun, headquarter of Uvwie Local Government Area in Delta State   Protested the purported illegal suspension of Hon.Andrew Agoyo  the  Chairman of HOSTCOM Urhobo Nation by  Evangelist Gabriel lsibeluo ,the Delta  State Chairman of HOSTCOM and his cohorts whom the protesters  alledged to be non  members of HOSTCOM.

Hon.  Andrew Agoyo the Chairman of HOSTCOM Urhobo Ethnic Nationality 

Who addressed the Press during the protests  stated that Evangelist Gabriel lsibeluo the Delta State Chairman of HOSTCOM is the problem  because he has committed so much attrocity concerning misappropriation and embezzlement of HOSTCOM funds to the tune of N325 Million released by the Delta State Government through DESOPADEC  to purchase

buses, train HOSTCOM Youths and women in lCT , monthly stipends, amongst other things. 

An  official  Protest  letter addressed to His Excellency, Senator Dr Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor  of Delta State signed by Hon. Andrew Agoyo and Comrade Benson Ogbolo, Chairman and Secretary respectively ,titled a clear cut case of abuse of power, gross misconduct , corruption, enrichment and multiple fraud, the need to  immediately  investigate  the  Delta State HOSTCOM Chairman , Evangelist Gabriel lsibeluo ,  to avert break down of law and order as he has become too  despotic in his leadership style for   HOSTCOM which is a  well known peaceful organization .

                                                                Agoyo, the Urhobo Nation HOSTCOM boss Who  felicitated with Governor Okowa on his six (6) years of laudable achievements  said:.  "We are grateful to God for bringing someone like your Excellency, as the Governor of Delta State.  Indeed, Delta State has never had it so  good until you took over the saddle  of leadership. On our part, we are  here registering  our àppreciation for the  kind gesture you have  extended to HOSTCOM, indeed we are eternally grateful. "

   Agoyo ,While expressing the grouse of the Urhobo Youths for the protest  said : " The youths are protesting for a number of good reasons concerning  the

fraudulent activity of Gabriel lsibeluo Which  in his determination to close the evil  tracks resorted to another illegality by attacking my person who is opposed

to his  corrupt  regime.

He added: " The Urhobo Nation of HOSTCOM is saying that the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission approved Five brand new buses for Hostcom , Delta State at the cost of Twenty - Five Million ( N25,000,000.00 ) Naira per one . The sum of One Hundred and Twenty Five Million ( N125,000,000.00 ) Naira was paid to the Delta State HOSTCOM Account for that purpose . These buses were meant  to be given to all the Ethnic Nationalities that makes up HOSTCOM , Delta State . The State Chairman bought five fairly used buses at the rate of Seven Million ( N7,000,000.00 ) Naira each . 

Agoyo further disclosed that lsibeluo  gave one fairly used bus to the Secretary perceived to be loyal to him and converted the remaining four fairly used buses for commercial purpose and the proceeds coming from that deal goes to lsibeluo private pocket, adding that , the Urhobo Ethnic Nationality was not given any of the fairly used buses .

 The  Youths protested and I Agoyo supported them that is my offence against Isibeluo he said.

Agoyo  who pleaded that the Delta State Government should unravel  the racket going on in HOSTCOM  continued :

 "  The Board of Delta State Oll Producing Areas Development Commission  gives the sum of Five Hundred Thousand ( N500,000.00 ) Naira monthly to HOSTCOM , Delta Chapter as stipends and this monies is to be shared  amongst the Ethnic Nationalities that makes up HOSTCOM , Delta State, to run the affairs of the Ethnic Nationalities. 

He lamented that three ( 3 ) years till date , a dime has not been given  to Urhobo Ethnic Nationality  .

We have   undeniable evidence that the Delta State Chapter of HOSTCOM under the watch of lsibeluo  has   received     the sum of  Eighteen Million, N18M  Which he must account for as the Delta State Chairman of HOSTCOM before peace can return as we have lost confidence in his leadership , Agoyo concluded.

Chief  Paul lbeyon ,Chairman HOSTCOM Uvwie Local Government Area Chapter

who also spoke during the protest about

the mischievousness of the  State Chairman said: "  One reason for the protest is that the Delta State HOSTCOM Secretariat  where we are now  number eleven  , Uti Street  off P TI  road Effurun have   about six ( 6 ) flats and in  fairness  the Urhobo Ethnic Nationality is  entitled to one  flat, like  Isoko , ljaw  , Ndokwa , Ika etc that  have a flat each given to them by the Delta State Chairman Evangelist  Gabriel Isibeluo  who deliberately refused  Urhobo Ethnic  Nationality their own right to get a  flat , even though  there is a vacant flat ."

 Chief lbeyon,  the Uvwie HOSTCOM Chair  explained that despite repeated pleas  and demands by us  to be given our own share of the available  flats , the Delta State Chairman of HOSTCOM refused , hence we are protesting to ask him  the question ,what is our offense?"

Ibeyon, While stating another reason for the protest said: " We are protesting against Isibeluo's  monumental fraudulent conversion of the sum of Ninety Million ( N90,000,000.00 ) Naira which is the fraudulent profit made from his  fraudulent deals using the advantage of  his office as the State Chairman. 

 While reacting to the purpoted illegal suspension of Agoyo by the State Chairman lbeyon said: " We want lsibeluo  to be thoroughly investigated as we the Urhobo Chairmen of various LGA  stand in full solidarity to affirm that Hon. Andrew Agoyo remains our  authentic  Chairman ."

Comrade  Sweet Otiotio the Urhobo Ethnic Youth Leader  of HOSTCOM who also ventilated the anger of the Youths concerning the untoward behavior of the

 State Chairman said:  "We are here protesting against the lsibeluo regime to 

let Governor Okowa know that we are being oppressed. As you can see it is a peaceful protest, all we need is for the relevant authorities to call  lsibeluo to order ,because he has tampered with too many things that is causing disaffection in the HOSTCOM family ."

Comrade  Otiotio remarked :  " Beside what others have said , one other reason we are protesting against lsibeluo bad leadership is that ,as  the State Chairman, he  arranged, co-ordinated and sponsored a fictitious and faceless petition against  Hon.. Andrew Agoyo  Chairman HOSTCOM Urhobo Nation just because he   demanded for Urhobo Ethnic Nationality's share of what is coming to HOSTCOM. 

 The Urhobo HOSTCOM Youth Leader

added: " Isibeluo threatened the life of both our Chairman, Hon. Andrew Agoyo and Chief Paul Ibeyon - Uvwie Local Government Chairman of HOSTCOM. He said  our Chairman Hon.  Andrew Agoyo and Chief Paul Ibeyon "the cloud is dark for  you and I will crush both of you". We have pieces of evidence to prove this, Otiotio posited.

Hon Happy Gbeke , the Secretary Urhobo  HOSTCOM Youth who also spoke said:  " " We are protesting because lsibeluo the   State Chairman collected the sum of Three Million (N3,000,000.00) from a contractor handling the Forcados Terminal Pipeline Contract , a project  which   passed  through  Urhobo Ethnic Nationality. We were supposed to be employed as a result of the said contract  but lsibeluo  sold out the  job slots meant for the Youths and collected the sum of Three Million (N3,000,000.00) Naira without a dime given to the Youths and Women of Urhobo Ethnic Nationality. "

 Hon  Gbeke added : " We are saying it loud and clear that the  Youths and Women of Urhobo HOSTCOM do not want to take the laws into our hands that is why we are here in a peacful protest , calling on our amiable Governor to do justice to the abnormalities of lsibeluo."

Gbeke ,while emphasizing the need for the immediate probe  in his protest speech stated that lsibeluo  also cornered the sum of Fifty Million (N50,000,000.00) Naira meant for ICT to train the youths and Women to be self employed .

He alledged that as  the State Chairman , lsibeluo  refused to use the said monies he collected  for the lCT Programme, the  purpose for  which it was meant .

Hon Emmanuel Okiemute Eyakagba Executive Assistant to Governor Okowa on HOSTCOM Affairs  who also spoke advised the protesting  Delta Central Youths of Urhobo Ethnic Nationality to

calm down , promising that their message will be conveyed to the relevant authorities for appropriate action and amicable solution to both

parties.

Hon Eyakagba, the Gov. Aide emphasized the need for Deltans to maintain peace which is essential to

sustain the prosperity brought by the 

SMART Agenda and to  enable the road Master Governor finish Strong with the Stronger Delta Vision by the grace of God .