A Niger Delta activist, Chief Michael Johnny, has called on the Delta State governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan to sack the board of DESOPADEC now, saying that the Commission has failed to uplift the lives of the people of the oil producing communities.

In a statement made available in Benin City, he described the current board of the commission led by Chief Wellington Okirika as a complete failure, adding that the Commission in the last few years had failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the oil producing communities and its current board had no reason to stay a day longer than necessary.

“Let our dynamic Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan dissolve the Board of DESOPADEC now. Most projects of the Commission are not people_oriented. The Governor should constitute a new Board for the commission with people who knows the pains of the oil producing communities. The Governor should not extend the tenure of the current Board of the state oil agency.”

While commending Governor Uduaghan for the huge amount of money he made available to the Commission over the years, Chief Johnny regretted that the commission had not lived up to expectation.

“DESOPADEC is meant to empower the people of the oil producing communities and develop them. But how many people have been empowered by the commission? Our people are still living in penury despite the huge amount of money the Governor has doled out to the Commission.

“We need a total overhaul of the Board of DESOPADEC in order for our suffering people to benefit from their oil wealth and these is why the failed Board of the Commission must be sacked now by our amiable Governor and inject a new blood into the Commission” he stated