DESOPADEC Commissioner, Izoukumor Appeals To ‘Avengers’ To Sheath Their Sword

Favour Izoukumor

The Commissioner representing Ijaw ethnic nationality in the board of Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief Favour Izoukumor has appealed to members of the self-styled militant group, ‘New Niger Delta Avengers’ to join force with the Delta State Government to develop the state.

Izoukumor said that it would be counterproductive to target oil and gas facilities in state just to show anger and agitation for development, saying it is the state that would suffer in event of such attack.

While appealing to his Ijaw kinsmen not to join in any act capable of casting the people in bad light, Izoukumor urged all stakeholders not to resort to violence because according to him, it will further deplete both the state and federal revenues at face of economic recession the country is experiencing.

He however thanked Ijaw nation leader, Chief (Senator) Edwin Clark, for his quick, timely and wise intervention in dousing the tension generated by threats from the militant group.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Izoukumor said: “I wish to appeal to all aggrieved interest groups in Delta state, especially those from the oil producing areas, to join hands with the state governor, Dr Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, to develop the state and not engage in acts capable of plunging our state into crisis and chaos.

“Experiences abound in our history and all over the world that violence has never yielded positive results, either in our agitations or as a means of settling scores. So I want to appeal to the New Delta Avengers never to resort to attacks on oil facilities because it is counterproductive to target oil and gas facilities in our lands to show anger and agitation for development. At the end of the day, we will be the ones to suffer it.

“Therefore, I join the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and acting governor, Barr Kingsley Otuaro, to advise members of the New Delta Avengers to sheathe their sword and accept the path of dialogue.

“I want to particularly commend the Acting Governor Kingsley Otuaro, a well-known peace advocate, for his charge to those behind this threat to take their issues to the roundtable and join hands with this administration’s efforts to move the state forward, despite the harsh economic realities we are currently experiencing, both at the state and federal levels.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that the nation is facing a most turbulent and trying stretch of her history. It is pertinent though to state that only through peace, cooperation and unity that we can weather the storm and come out stronger.

“There’s no doubt in my mind, whatsoever, that with His Excellency, Governor Okowa, at the helms of our affairs, we shall reach the promised land and achieve his promise of prosperity for all Deltans.

“I thank and commend the state government for the sincere and proactive approach it has deployed in handling this delicate issue. The present administration means well for the entire state and the people of oil producing areas and has amply displayed this in its handling of development issues affecting us”.