Urhobo HOSTCOM Protest Suspension of Agoyo As They Call On Gov. Okowa To lnvestigate…
…Isibeluo Embezzled Of N325 Million Meant To Use For Purchase Of 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 purchaseb 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 PTI 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 theS tate 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 .
