By Festus Ahon
UGHELLI—PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has been called upon to appoint capable persons with unique passion for service into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission when the board would be reconstituted.

The call was made yesterday by Delta Democratic League in a press statement signed by Chief Ighoteguono Asohro, Coordinator, Mr. M.O. Erhoma and three others and made available to newsmen in Ughelli, Delta State.

The league contended that the development challenges facing the region required men of proven integrity and urged the President to firm up and re-direct the service delivery capacities of the ministry of the Niger Delta and the NDDC.

While praising Yar’Adua for establishing the ministry, the setting up of the Ledum Mitee-led Technical Committee and the issue of amnesty to militants, the group appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider the military approach to the crisis in the region.

The league stated that “it is now the fair turn of the Delta Central Senatorial District, made up of the Urhobo nationality in the state, to be given the chance to produce Delta State’s representative on the NDDC board.

“The immense contribution of Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State which has successively produced the position of the Delta State representative since inception of the NDDC in December 2000 to 2009 cannot be over-emphasised.”

The group urged Mr. President and the amiable Governor of Delta State to see the exigent need for the Delta Central Senatorial District, which is the second highest oil producing Senatorial District in Delta State, to have its turn this time around.