30 October 2015, Effurun—Urhobo and Ijaw youths in Delta State, yesterday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, cautioned Itsekiri organizations over their seven-day ultimatum to shut the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, over purported marginalization of the ethnic group.
The Urhobo Youth Leaders Association, UYLA, Urhobo Youth Council, Ijaw Youth Leaders Forum, Ijaw Youth Council, Urhobo Professionals Association and Ijaw Youth Council at the end of an emergency meeting in Effurun, condemned the ultimatum, which they described as the handiwork of a dismissed staff of the commission.
In the communiqué by national spokesperson of UYLA, Samuel Oghotomo, and others, they said, “As we appreciate their agitation, the Itsekiri must be cautious of their activities because they have no right to shut down the commission. The commission was established in 2007 to cater for the development of the oil producing areas and also to promote ethnic harmony.”
They argued that the ultimatum by the Itsekiri groups was capable of truncating the peace enjoyed in the state, as other groups would resist the move.
The Urhobo and Ijaw youths urged the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, to call the former DESOPADEC worker, who they said wants to retain his former position at all cost and his accomplices to order, as the present management of the commission, led by Chief William Makinde, had nothing to do with the issues they raised.
“We, therefore, urge all ethnic nationalities to support the William Makinde-led DESOPADEC management to deliver prosperity to all Deltans in their catchment areas,” they added.
- Vanguard
