-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):
The Managing Director/CEO of e Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh (FCNA,CrFA), has reiterated that the ongoing town hall meetings across various ethnic nationalities in the mandate areas of the Commission is to brainstorm with the stakeholders in order to plan for developmental projects that woud impact in the lives of the people.
Bashorun Askia stated this during a town hall meeting organized by DESOPADEC for the Ijaw ethnic nationalities held in Wellington Hotel, Warri on Wednesday.
He urged the Ijaw monarchs to always calm their subjects to maintain the existing peace in the state to attract development.
He further said that theIjaws have a lot more to gain under his excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, ‘‘The commission is ready to develop the Ijaw oil producing communities as well as impacted communities to have a sense of belonging from the 50% Delta state government share of the federal 13% deverivation fund for oil producing communities in Niger Delta.’’
He thanked the royal fathers and other stakeholders for the peace enjoyed in Ijaw communities thus far, adding that the Ijaws in Delta have a similar developmental challenges and assured the people to remain calm as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would focus on the development of all mandate areas.
The event attracted various Ijaw traditional rulers, include HRM, Charles Ayemi Botu, HRM. Capt. Joseph TimIyan, HRM. Samuel Eva and others as well as youths leaders, women and other stakeholders.