By Oluwayemi Davidson, Warri
A household name in the Oil and Gas Sector in the Niger Delta region, Chief Favour Izoukumor has said that the inauguration of a substantive Board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will guarantee accountability in the management of the Commission and remove ill feelings among the various stakeholders in the region.
Favour Izoukumor, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State and current Chairman of the Party in Warri South-West Local Government Area, made the assertions in Warri on Tuesday during a media chat.
Commenting on the recurring protests against the Federal Government’s failure to inaugurate the NDDC Board, Chief Favour Izoukumor, a former Commissioner representing the Ijaw nationality in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) justified the agitations by the various Niger Delta groups particularly the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Itsekiri Liberation Group (ILG) and lately the foremost Niger Delta ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.
The various groups had issued ultimatums to the Federal Government to constitute a substantive board for the NDDC threatening that failure to do this, they would close NDDC offices and as well shutdown oil exploitations in the region thus making the region ungovernable.
Chief Favour Izoukumor, an advocate of peace between the Ijaws and Itsekiris, while addressing journalists urged the Federal Government to hearken to the calls by the various stakeholders by constituting a substantive Board for the NDDC without further delay.
This, he said, would give peace a chance in the Niger Delta region.
He insisted that the inauguration of a substantive Board for the NDDC will not only guarantee accountability in the management of the Commission but also remove ill feelings among the various stakeholders in the region.