NDDA, a social-political group of security-conscious people of the Niger Delta area has vowed to shut down the Niger Delta States over the non-inclusion of a representative of Delta State on the Board of the commission as read on the floor of the Senate last week.

The group, however, warned that any attempt to undermine Delta State and spite the National Assembly members from the State by the cabal in the presidency is a sure invitation to anarchy.

Addressing newsmen in Warri on Saturday, the National President of the body, Hon. Dr Liege Lord Keston Okoro expressed deep resentment with the list released by the presidency for consideration by the Senate without a representative from Delta State which is at variance with the extant laws setting up the commission.

Speaking further, he stressed that from the power game at play, there could be an attempt to undermine the powers and influence of the Deputy President of the Senate, the number 5 political office holder in Nigeria, warning that the anomaly must be corrected so as not to return the Niger Delta to her old path of chaos, avoidable strife and insecurity.

“This is a huge slap on the face of Delta State, the state with the highest production quota and contributor to the country’s GDP in terms of crude oil output. Whoever is behind the list is an enemy of the Niger Delta and must be treated as such.

“No NDDC board can be screened, confirmed and inaugurated without the Delta State slot on the Board. Those playing politics with the NDDC board are still at work and if they think they are hurting the DSP because of his stance on issues of progress and development of the area, they are mistaken.

“Without mincing words and shifting grounds It is the right of Delta State to have a representative on the board as other states do. Section 2(1A and 1B) specifically states very clearly that all Niger Delta States shall have their representative on the board.

“Thus I see no reason why Delta State should be omitted from the composition of the board. What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander so we don’t pervert the course of justice. Stitch in time saves nine and a little word is enough for the wise.

“For several years, the Board has not been inaugurated and the Niger Delta is the ultimate loser because there is a limit to what the interim administrators can do. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege had always stood for fairness and the best interest of the people but we are aware that external forces and enemies of the Niger Delta had been at work. To send such a list to the National Assembly, hoping to blackmail the DSP to support the evil list because of the coming election is to pitch the Senator against his people.

“The Senator Ovie Omo-Agege that we know will always stand for his people. The politics of 2023 cannot be used to blackmail him into submission. We of the Niger Delta Defense Assembly have vowed to make the area ungovernable if the anomaly is not corrected. We shall not take this rubbish from anybody.

“The right thing must be done so that NDDC can stand on its two feet to promote the interest of the Niger Delta States,” the former Delta State House of Assembly member added.

He warned those behind the list to desist from their wicked and anti-people antics which had stalled the progress and development of the Niger Delta over time because of the non-inauguration of the substantive board for many years. (Daily Independent)

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