by Nosa Eresoyen, Asaba

Landlords of Offices rented by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) located in the geographical zones of the States' major five ethnic groups -  Ijaw, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ndokwa and Isoko -  have threatened to evict workers in the rented offices over alleged N5billion unpaid rents. 

 In a related development, he aggrieved landlords are also seeking the help of the State Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa  to prevail on the commission to pay its rents, It was reliably gathered that the commission had in the past three years allegedly been owing its rents, and no hope in sight for payments. Investigation revealed that the commission opened offices across the five geo-ethnic zone at a  cost of N450,000 yearly including BEDC bills. 

 But one of the landlords in Ndokwa axis, Chief Nze Okolobi who spoke to our reporter on telephone, said several efforts had been made by the landlords to demand for their rents to no avail as the commission officials bitterly complained of cash scrap situation they are currently faced with. 

 “We landlords met recently in Ozoro and write a letter to the Commission Managing Director, since two months ago, up until now, no response and we have resolved to meet with the Governor, Dr. Okowa to help us prevail on the commission to pay us, or we will evict their workers from the offices” he disclosed. 

 In the letter signed by Elder Godswill Oke, Mr. Joseph Oboreh and Chief Otoworh, a copy made available to our reporter, threatened to evict the commission’s workers in the offices across if it failed to pay its rents on or before May ending. 

 Consequently, the landlords who had been under pains, however called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to prevail on the authorities of the commission to pay its rents since the money was alleged to have been paid to it by the state government long ago. 

 Unconfirmed sources said the commission had been facing serious financial challenges over the years, particularly in the ongoing recession and allegedly had not been able to meet most of its financial obligations. 

 But in a swift reaction, the Managing Director of the Commission Dr. Williams Makinde said no money had been paid to the commission, adding that “we run an open-door administration, if the money is paid, it will not been hidden, in fact, such money has not been paid to the commission”. 

 A landlord, Chief John Okotie told our reporter “we are suffering greatly as a result of the commission’s refusal to pay us our rents, hence we are appealing to Governor Okowa to step into the matter and ensure that the money is paid”. 

 Also, the state government through the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, explained that for paucity of funds, it has been difficult to pay off some outstanding bills, adding that the state government was working hard to ensure payments are made.