[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Rita Lori-Ogbebor, Itsekiri women leader"]
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The Itsekiri ethnic nationality in Delta State yesterday, handed down a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to reverse or abolish the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Bill, which was passed into law recently, or face court action.
Addressing journalists in Warri by prominent Itsekiri women leader, Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori-Ogbebor, the ethnic group described as, “criminal,” government’s intention to take from money belonging to oil and gas producing communities.
She demanded for the refund of money allegedly stolen from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality over the years, expressing disgust over the attitude of the state government, The Sun reports.
“Derivation principle of the law says that the president, upon the receipt of advice from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, shall table before the National Assembly, proposals from revenue account.
“Beside, in determining the formula, the National Assembly shall take into account, the allocation principles, especially those of population, equality of states, internal revenue generation, land mass, terrain as well as population density,” Chief Lori-Ogbebor stated.
She stressed that the constitution, which supersedes all laws, had laid emphasis on derivation, pointing out that the intention of the Federal Government was clear on the issue.
“Consequently, it is therefore, clear that no state governor has the right to divide or take money from the local government allocation or derivation as there is no law that can supersede the constitution,” Chief Lori- Ogbebor stated.
She stated that any attempt to take money specifically allocated to any of the three arms of government was criminal.
As stated by her, the average money that came as derivation monthly was about N5billion.