By James Ezema
The Itsekiri people of Delta State have passed a vote of no confidence on their representatives in Itsekiri Regional Development Council, IRDC, consequently, urging  Chevron Nigeria Limited to stop further dealings with present IRDC leaders with regard to execution of its GMoU pact with the company.

In a letter to the Managing Director of Chevron, dated December 28, 2010 and  jointly signed by president and general secretary of Itsekiri New Dawn, Prince David Iwere and Mr Odudu Johnson, respectively, they said that their  decision to disown the IRDC leadership as their representative in a any form, followed a resolution at the end of the first Itsekiri National Youth Conference, which took place in Warri Delta State.

They, however, informed Chevron management that “all further negotiations should be routed through the Palace of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri, who will convene a meeting of the youths, elders and the chiefs” in the oil producing community.

Threatening showdown with the oil company if it continued to recognise the current IRDC, they demanded that “the signed pact should be published for the stakeholders to have first hand information of what the details of the memorandum of understanding is all about.”

They further requested that “a proper account of stewardship be rendered to the Itsekiri people, while the account should include all money so far paid to the Itsekiri Oil Bearing Communities covered by this pact (GMoU).”