The renowned female broadcaster and human right activists Chief Rita Lori-ogbebor yesterday said she is heading to the court to seek redress on behalf of Delta people over alarming cases of corruption that has underdeveloped Delta State.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Lagos, Lori-Ogbebor said the level of underdevelopment in Delta State was worrisome despite the huge funds that have been pumped into the state.
She said, “I come from Delta State, there is no reason by now, why Delta State should be poor. If we managed our 13 percent derivation, the deferent MOU in the different companies, the NDDC, the ministry of Niger Delta properly, if we managed the amnesty, Delta state has no reason to be poor.
“They have no reason not to have enough to go round and to develop its region. But today I am afraid to go back, because I don’t have the money to give to my families that is how bad it is, there is hunger in our land.
“Evil men have taken over our country, while we have gone to court in prayers, I have decided to go to court, despite all that has happened in our courts, the criticisms, wrong doings, I still have faith in our courts.
“So today I am telling you that I have gone to court, I have gone to court to bring sanity to my own people, if other leaders will pretend as if nothing has happened, I am not going to pretend.”
She added that,” an angry group have gone to take inventory on all the jobs done in itsekiri kingdom, by Itsekiri Regional Council, Chevron and Delta State Oil Producing And Development Commission (DESOPADEC) of all the billions that have been spent, nothing came out of it.
“I have here a book on the Odyssey of waste, on how leaders wasted itsekiri money, today, there are no schools in the rural areas, no hospitals, and there are no jobs in Warri.
“The other reason for which I have gone to court is DESOPADEC, Everyone knows the fight between myself and ex- governor James Ibori, which lasted about eight years, and ended up in the Appeal and Supreme court. At the end of his tenure, he created DESOPADEC; he came out with a bill, which today I am still fighting, because it is against our constitution.”
According to her, the constitution says, 13 percent derivation was meant for the development of the rural areas, areas feeding the whole of this country, lamenting that ex-governor Ibori got his House of Assembly to come out with a bill, giving 50 percent of that 13 percent to DESOPADEC for the development of the rural areas and has been silent on the remaining 50 percent.
“That is why I am in court, I want to know where that 50 percent has gone to, even the 50 percent that was put aside for DESOPADEC, is not even given to them.
“They do not get even half of the 50 percent. DESOPADEC is just a gathering of people, people put together and they are paid monthly, so that the government will not be accused of using up the money accrued for the rural areas. Delta State is the food basket of the Nation. When things go wrong there, it will affect everywhere else.
“I am fighting for my people, I am fighting institutions, without me going to court in the first instance, DESOPADEC would not have been there. I fought to create DESOPADEC,” she said.
