By Emma Amaize

WARRI—AN Itsekiri youth leader in Delta State, Mr Benson Erewa, has called on  oil and gas producing ethnic nationalities in the state to support the exceptional zeal of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, to guarantee direct payment of 13 per cent allocation to them through the restructuring of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC.

Erewa,  who spoke to newsmen in Warri,  yesterday, said: “I appeal to all the oil producing ethnic nationalities be it Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Ndokwa or Ika, to support the restructuring of DESOPADEC because the commission, as it is presently constituted, does not touch the critical masses at the grassroots.

“The proposed restructuring will not only create more jobs for our teeming youths but will also enhance development. There will be a decentralization of power, more powers will be given to the ethnic nationalities,” he added.

He appealed to Ika ethnic nationality,  which has joined the league of oil producing areas following the commercial operation at Abavo, Ika South Local Council,  to support the bill as it stands to benefit more from same.