By Emma Amaize & Perez Brisibe
UGHELLI—MORE oil producing communities in Delta State, have continued to react to the recently constituted Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, with threats to shut oil facilities in their domains.
Adding their voice to the agitations, youths from Udu Local Government Area of the state have threatened to shut down oil wells in their communities if the state governor fails to review the appointment of the member representing the area on the board of the commission.
Also, Ijaw people in state have accused Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of shortcharging the ethnic group in the composition of the new board of DESOPADEC.
Chairman of Kokokodiagbene, community, a riverside oil community in Warri South West Local Government Area, Mr Sheriff Mulade, said, yesterday, that it was unfair for Ijaw, the highest oil producing tribe in the state to have only two slots in the 14-member board.
He insisted that the appointment of a former Chevron Staff, Chief Phillip Gbasin, who is Executive Director, Social Service, DESOPADEC and Chief Favour Izoukumor, was not commensurate with Ijaw contribution, which he put at 30 per cent of the total production by the state.
Mulade said that the 27 per cent production quantum assigned to Ijaw was meant to deprive the ethnic group of its benefits.