The Delta North Initiative For Equity, Justice And Good Governance, has called on the Ministry of Water Resources as the coordinating Ministry to direct the Board of Benin – Owena River Basins Developments Authority, without hesitation to resume work immediately in Asaba, Delta State Capital, as there is an existing befitting office.
More so, Asaba, with a befitting airport has a better conducive working environment and security compared to Benin, Edo State Capital,where all manners of insecurity is at its highest.
Presently, the office headquarters of the BORBDA has been shut down by protesting Edo people who said, until their son is appointed the Managing Director of the board the office would not be opened for operations and the workers would not be allowed to gain entrance into the office premises to carry out their legitimate official functions.
The group has vehemently condemned the action of the Edo people, and made it clear that if there were any area that is being marginalized in the board, it is the Delta North, which since the inception of the BORBDA has been appointed as the Managing Director ones, compared to Edo State that has been appointed five times.
And if be allowed to be appointed again as being agitated by them, it will be six times, which would be unfair, unacceptable and against equal justice.
The people of Edo State, which has been appointed into the position of Executive Director in the presently constituted BORBDA should know that it is not their birthright to always occupy the position of the Managing Director.
The Edo River Basins Developments Authority is made up of four states of the Federation, comprising Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Delta North.
So far all the areas that made up BORBDA have had the position of the Managing Director as follow :
(1)Prince I. A. Eweka( Edo State) 1977-1982
(2)Mr Tukur Ahmed (Kaduna State)1982-1984
(3)Chief J. F. O. Jegede(Ekiti State)1985-1986
(4)Chief E. C. Olumese (Edo State) 1986-1989
(5)Engr C. O. Adegbilero (Ondo State) 1989-1990
(6)Dr . G. E. Oteze (Edo State) 1990-1999
(7)Mr I. R. Emefiene (Delta State)1999-2005
(8)Engr A. C. Ijasan (Ekiti State)2005-2009
(9)Mr C.I. Okpaleke (IMO State)2009-2011
(10)Mr A. A. Osula(Edo State) January 2011-January 2011
(11)Engr A. L. Ijasan (Ekiti State) 2011-2013
(12)Mr E. O. Mafayeyomi (Ondo State) 2013-2016
(13)Engr S. O. Ahmed (Edo State) 2016-2024.
With the above record, Edo State had the position five times, Ekiti State, had it three times ,Ondo State, had two times and Delta State had it one time.
On several occasions, appointment as the Managing Director of BORBDA, were given to individuals that had no links to the region, whereby many candidates from Delta North were abandoned with no opportunity.
Furthermore , in some situations appointments or preferential treatments were given to people from other States from other region within the authority’s jurisdiction leaving Delta North indigenes to wonder whether merit or regional quotas were truly the guiding principles behind these appointment decisions.
This action or practice perpetuates the perception of a deliberate exclusion from appointment process.
This process is not only discriminatory but counter productive to the agency’s mandate of fostering inclusive developments across its jurisdiction.
The lack of equity and fairness in the appointment of the Managing Director of BORBDA has contributed to the growing sense of injustice.
This lack of transparency has allowed for unregulated biases to prevail in the appointment process, further entrenching the systemic exclusion of Delta North indigenes, which has denied its fair share of government opportunities.
This has led to a growing sense, of frustration, social unrest and lack of trust in the fairness of the operations of the agency.
Once gain, the Delta North Initiate For Equity, Justice And Good Governance, call on the board of BORBDA to resume in the Asaba Office, as they would be provided with good conducive working environment, all the necessary protections and assistance needed.
Signed :
Mr Mathias Aghalor,
Cordinator,
Delta North Initiative For Equity, Justice And Good Governance.
Barrister Anthony Ossai,
Secretary
Chief Kenechukwu Monyei,
Publicity Secretary