No Itsekiri as Chairman or MD, no NDDC Board – Coalition of Itsekiri Groups, dare FG

A coalition of Itsekiri Groups, comprising Itsekiri Interest Group, Itsekiri Liberation Group, Itsekiri Coalition for Good Governance, Itsekiri Freedom Congress, National Association of Itsekiri Students, Sisan Ebiren - Iwere and Iwere Women Consultative Forum, have dared the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government, saying if an Itsekiri indigene is not appointed as the Chairman or Managing Director, MD of the next Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, the Board should not be constituted.

Fresh Angle International can authoritatively report that the coalition handed down the condition Thursday August 11, during a peaceful protest in Warri, Delta State.

They vowed that the protest would continue, until FG appoints an Itsekiri indigene as Chairman and/or MD of NDDC.

Video Clip of the Protest

Members of the groups, who began the protest at the field opposite the Olu of Palace, Warri, marched through the Olu Palace gate by Ajamimogha Road, down to Okere Market Square and headed to Merrick Lori Cultural Centre at Ajamimogha Road in Warri, where they presented their point-blank demands to a representative of the Igba of Warri Kingdom, Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor.

The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as: "We just quiet since, if FG nor appoint Itsekiri as Chairman or MD of NDDC, Peace no go reign oooo”, “Na we dey produce the highest crude oil in Delta State, but have the least developed communities", "No Itsekiri, No NDDC" and "8 years of marginalization, enough is enough", said: “Since the year 2000 when NDDC Board was created, no Itsekiri has been considered to serve in the capacity of Chairman or MD of the Board, despite being the highest oil and gas producing ethnic group in Delta State. This is not acceptable to us anymore”.

A cross section of the protesters at the Ugbori axis of the Olu Palace gate, Warri

President of Itsekiri Interest Group, Gbubemi Awala, while addressing newsmen at the Merrick Lori Cultural Centre, Warri, urged President Buhari to appoint an Itsekiri indigene as Chairman or MD of NDDC, for fairness, justice, unity and progress.

According to Awala, President Buhari should “face fact and leave the politics, surrounding the NDDC Board inauguration”, appealing to Chief Rita Lori Ogbebor and the father of Itsekiri Nation, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, to cascade their demand to President Buhari.

Our Senior Correspondent reports that the Chairman of Itsekiri Liberation Group, ILG, Comrade Oris Mone, in his address, said: “It is not a crime to be minority in Nigeria, Itsekiri has the highest quantum of crude oil and gas production in Delta state, that makes it a must for an Itsekiri to be considered as Chairman and MD of NDDC”.

The protesters at Merrick Lori Cultural Centre, Ajamimogha -Warri

President of Itsekiri Freedom Congress, Comrade Igiogio Matthew, expressed sadness over the perceived long marginalization of Itsekiris in the Board of NDDC by the Federal Government, saying: “NDDC is rotational for oil and gas producing ethnic groups, which Itsekiri happens to be the highest oil producing ethnic nationality in Delta State and second highest in Nigeria.

Gbubemi Awala, on behalf of the coalition, presented a letter, detailing their demands to Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor, who was represented by the Director of Merrick Lori Cultural Centre, Warri, Mr. Frank Uromieyaghan.

Mr. Uromieyaghan, assured members of the coalition that he would present their demands to Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, commending them for the peaceful protest.

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