Governor Oborevwori, DESOPADEC Board Are Doing Well With the Oil Money Meant for the Host Communities — Urhobo HOSTCOM Youths Replies Mayor Akpodoro

 

By Wilson Macaulay

Warri, Delta State — The Urhobo Youth Wing of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) has issued a strong rebuttal to the recent call by Mr. Eshanekpe Israel, popularly known as “Mayor” Akpodoro, who demanded that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) render public accounts of stewardship.

In a statement released in Warri and signed by Sweet Otiotio, Leader of the Urhobo HOSTCOM Youth Wing, the group described Akpodoro’s remarks as “baseless, misleading, and tainted with questionable motives,” insisting that the current administration of Governor Oborevwori and the DESOPADEC Board under Chief John Nani have been transparent and effective in managing resources meant for host communities.

The HOSTCOM youths also accused Akpodoro of impersonation, stressing that he is parading himself with titles never conferred on him by the Urhobo people.

“At no time did the Urhobo nation come together to crown Akpodoro as a Mayor, nor has he ever been addressed legitimately as ‘His Excellency.’ These are false and self-imposed titles. He should desist from impersonating both political and traditional offices he does not hold. Urhobo people reject such misrepresentation,” the statement warned.

According to the youths, Akpodoro’s self-acclaimed status is a deliberate ploy to project himself as a leader of Urhobo people when in reality he has no recognized mandate as a king from the Urhobo nation as he wants the public to believe.

Comrade Sweet Otiotio further stated that Akpodoro must first account for Amnesty funds allegedly mismanaged under his watch. He claimed that several ex-agitators have consistently complained about non-payment of their stipends despite funds being released through UBA and other banks.

“Anybody that goes to equity must come with clean hands. The EFCC should investigate and verify the Amnesty monies paid to Akpodoro and double  check his dealings with the banks. His failure to transparently disburse Amnesty funds has been a source of grievances that could snowball into crisis if unchecked,” Otiotio said.

The Urhobo HOSTCOM Youths emphasized that while accountability is crucial, the responsibility to question DESOPADEC lies with the host communities themselves — not with ex-agitators claiming moral authority.

“DESOPADEC is an interventionist agency established for host communities. As HOSTCOM, we are the rightful representatives of these communities. We welcome constructive engagement with government, but we cannot allow someone impersonating titles to distract from the real progress being made,” the group stressed.

Government and DESOPADEC Doing Well With Oil Funds

Countering allegations of mismanagement, Urhobo HOSTCOM Youths praised Governor Oborevwori and the DESOPADEC leadership for impactful initiatives across oil-bearing communities. They cited Youths and women empowerment schemes, school renovations, road construction, and healthcare projects as evidence that funds are being put to use.

“To the best of knowledge, the state government and the DESOPADEC Board are doing well with the oil money meant for host communities. There are visible results across Urhobo land and other host communities,” they said.

Adding his voice, Happy Gbeke, Secretary of the Urhobo HOSTCOM Youth Wing, reaffirmed Otiotio’s position, stating that the group stands solidly behind Governor Oborevwori and the DESOPADEC management.

“Indeed, the state government and DESOPADEC are performing creditably. We, as HOSTCOM Youths, have monitored the developments and can boldly say the funds are not being mismanaged. Rather, they are touching lives in host communities,” Gbeke noted.

The youths concluded by cautioning Akpodoro to desist from impersonating positions and titles not bestowed upon him, and to stop misleading the public with unverified claims.

“Urhobo people never made Akpodoro a Mayor, nor is he an Excellency. He should stop deceiving himself and the public. If he insists on probing finances, let him first explain his stewardship over Amnesty funds. We stand with Governor Oborevwori and the DESOPADEC Board in their efforts to develop our communities,” the HOSTCOM youths declared.