By Emma Keno
Itsekiri youths under the aegis of Itsekiri Liberation Group (ILG) have given the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari a 14-day ultimatum to constitute a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The group which rejected the current Interim Sole Administrator for the interventionist agency threatened to cripple oil production activities in the Niger Delta region should the Federal Government failed to constitute a new board.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Mone Oris, and Secretary, Comrade Ajofortan Omagbemi, the group lamented that NDDC which is aimed developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region had become a private enterprise for few persons within and outside the region.
The Itsekiri youths warned that the ultimatum to the Federal Government should be taken seriously as the Itsekiri people are not known to be making vain threats.
They posited that the appointment of interim management boards and later sole administrator by the Federal Government negate extant laws establishing the commission.
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“Over the years, we have noticed with utmost dismay that the Federal Government is taking the peaceful and law-abiding disposition of the Itsekiri people for granted. In the recent past, the Federal Government have completely neglected the Itsekiri people in the scheme of things in the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“We will no longer tolerate the Federal Government and minister of Niger Delta flimsy excuse of conducting Forensic Audit because it is clear that the forensic audit is a charade and a deliberate attempt to stay glued to power and further impoverish our people in oil and gas producing communities in the Niger-Delta.
“Therefore, we will not condole any deliberate act to control the resources in our land without following laid down laws backing the establishment of NDDC”, the statement partly read.
Adding, the group demanded, “For the Federal government to immediately dissolve the Sole Administrator managing the affairs of the NDDC, because it is skewed to favour only a few cabals as against the general interests benefits and representation of various states that ought to constitute the Board”.
“The Federal government should with immediate effect appoint, confirm and Inaugurate a substantive Board for the NDDC within 14 days”.
“The Federal government should Include all projects in Itsekiri area such as Koko -Ogheye Road, Omadino-Excravos (Ugborodo) , Jakpa to Ogheye to Ugbege road , Rural Electrification project from Koko to Benin River in Warri North, Koko shoreline protection etc in the NDDC budget and all projects should be properly funded and executed in line with global engineering standards. We will vehemently resist abandoned projects”.
“The Federal government should immediately Include Itsekiris in the recently concluded recruitment of Over 300 staff in NDDC. Any exclusion of our people in the recruitment of staff in NDDC will be resisted because by virtue of our production quantum of oil and gas, we are major stakeholders in the region and Nigeria at large”.
“Itsekiri sons and daughters must be included in NDDC skill acquisition and empowerment programs. We were shocked to see NDDC engage over 200 indigenous people of the Niger Delta without a single Itsekiri man or woman, this is the gross neglect of the Itsekiri people”.
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“That Itsekiri sons and daughters should be considered for the position of the MD and executive position, this is because over the years (20 years) that the Commission was created, Itsekiris who produce 22.8 % of the National oil and gas has not be considered for either the MD or executive position. We won’t take it anymore; we call on all our members and Itsekiri Nation to resist this act of wickedness done by the federal government”.
“If these demands are not met, we shall decimate all oil and gas installations in Delta and Edo States, sealed the NDDC Offices in both states until the Federal Government appoint and inaugurate NDDC substantive Board and fund all on going NDDC projects in Itsekiri area of Delta State.
