Warri, Delta – The Managing Director/ CEO of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESPOADEC, Chief Festus Ochonogor, has assured that the Commission will not marginalize any ethnic nationality in terms of its core mandate of developing the oil-bearing communities.

FreshAngle reports that Chief Ochonogor, gave the assurance Monday March 11, at the PTI Conference Center, Effurun, Delta State, when Ndokwa Nation DESOPADEC Staff Association, held a grand welcome ceremony for their Ndokwa kinsmen in the DESOPADEC board.

The ceremony, held in honour of Chief Festus Ochonogor and Dr. Charles Olisa as well as Azuka Enebeli, the Commissioners representing Ndokwa Nationality in the Board of DESOPADEC.

The DESOPADEC Boss, commended NNDSA for the honour given to them, saying: “On behalf of the two Commissioners, we appreciate this honour you have given us today, we also want to use the opportunity to thank the state leadership for instituting the rotation power sharing principle, it is because of this rotational principle we have an Ndokwa indigene as MD."

Chief Ochonoghor implored staff of DESOPADEC, irrespective of their ethnic nationality, to work harmoniously with management of the Commission, to achieve their goals which is, development of mandate areas, saying, “the existence of the different ethnic groups, should not be at cross purposes, but for the success of the state.”

He added: “We should have the consciousness that Delta State is united, stable and progressive by our activities, we are not going to marginalize any ethnic nationality in terms of development.

“The Commission has an operational methodology we met and still use in operating, we will ensure all mandate areas are accessible and have equal distribution of resources.”

He appealed to NNDSA, to support the leadership of the Board for impactful development, promising to improve the welfare of staff in the Commission.

“We will do our best to add value and make significant impact in the Commission, but we cannot do this in isolation, we need the support of the state and for us to continue to enjoy the support of the state, we all have the responsibility as management and staff of DESOPADEC, to do well and be exemplary in conduct, stay away from crisis and inciting comments. We must continue to educate ourselves, learn from each other and be committed to ensuring development gets to the oil-bearing communities”, Ochonogor, advised.