By Mudiaga Affe
A group known as Niger Delta Volunteers for Good Governance (NDVGG) has vowed to team up with a former militant leader, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, to crumble the nation’s economy if the government failed to inaugurate aboard for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Recall that Tompolo on Sunday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to inaugurate a substantive Board for the NDDC, vowing that failure to do so, would lead to the nation’s economy, particularly in the Niger Delta, being crumbled.

President of NDVGG, Mr. Ben Bowei, (aka, Lord Mayor 1 of Niger Delta), who disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin City, Edo State, said that after exhausting all the available avenues for consultations, the group had no option but to join forces with other groups,

particularly the well-respected ex-militant leader, in demanding justice.

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Bowei, a former National Treasurer of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC worldwide), who also doubles as the Secretary-General, Edo Restoration Movement, said the decision to join Tompolo became necessary taking into consideration the injustice meted on the Niger Delta people, particularly Edo State.

He said, “We have concluded that after the seven-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government by our well-respected leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo elapses, we are going to crumble all economic activities particularly oil exploration in the entire Niger Delta region.

“We have vowed to shut down all facilities which will crumble the economy of the nation unless the Federal Government does the needful by correcting the injustice meted on the people of the Niger Delta.

“Enough of this injustice done to us in our region. We will not accept any longer, and I mean it! A single individual cannot take a whole region made up of millions of people for granted. We are demanding that a substantive board for the NDDC is inaugurated immediately else, the government will see our other side. We are not joking. Immediately after the 7-day ultimatum elapses, we are going to strike.”

He also vowed to take over the East-West Road and NDDC office in Benin should the Federal Government fail to set up the Board, adding that the Act that established the NDDC does not recognise sole administrator as obtainable presently hence it is an aberration.

It would be recalled that Bowie and his Edo Restoration Movement, led by its president, Mr. Honesty Agingbatse, had some months ago protested against the aberration in the NDDC where he demanded that a substantive Board be set up for the NDDC as required by the Act.

He added then that the group decided to take over the NDDC office in Benin because of the marginalization of Edo State and the Niger Delta in general.