NDDC: We will challenge you in court, Itsekiri group tells FG

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The Itsekiri Liberation Group, ILG, has threatened to challenge the Federal Government in the law court, if it goes ahead to constitute a substantive Board for Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, without appointing an Itsekiri indigene as Chairman or MD, insisting, “Any attempt to constitute a substantive Board of the NDDC with any other tribe from Delta State (Delta South Senatorial District) as the Chairman or MD is illegal, unconstitutional and unacceptable”.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Warri, ILG demanded for the publication of the forensic audit report carried out on the operations of the NDDC since inception.

“We believe that the implementation of the report, will bring about justice and development to the common people in the Niger Delta, whose wealth has been embezzled by few individuals from the region”.

The group stated: “The law setting up the NDDC unambiguously states the requirements and conditions to constitute the substantive Board of the NDDC and the subsequent appointment of a Managing Director or Chairman. The appointment of those offices are patently based on production quantum of crude oil and gas, not on some quaint considerations.

“It is an indisputable fact that the Itsekiri Nation is the highest in the production quantum of crude oil and gas in Delta State, and therefore in line with the NDDC Act, it is the turn of Itsekiri Nationality in Delta State, to assume the position of Chairman or MD of the Board of the Commission.

“The Itsekiri Liberation Group, ILG is therefore giving its full and unalloyed support to the demand of civil rights’ leader and principal stakeholder in the Niger Delta, Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori Ogbebor, other Itsekiri groups and other well-meaning Nigerians, who are advocating for an Itsekiri person to be made the Managing Director or Chairman of the substantive Board of the NDDC soon to be appointed because, it is the turn of Delta state to produce either of two positions.

“We know for a fact that Delta South Senatorial District is dominated by Itsekiri, Ijaw and Isoko and a splash of other ethnic groups.

“We wish to state unequivocally that we will not yield to those who want to use political brigandage to take what rightfully belongs to us”.