By DEBORAH COKER

Delta Ijaw APC Stakeholders, a bloc in the Delta State branch of All Progressive Congress (APC), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to appoint an Ijaw indigene as the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) Managing Director.

This was part of its resolution during a high level meeting held on Wednesday in Warri, Delta State, where members discussed issues affecting the people of Ijaw extraction in APC, Delta branch.

A copy of the resolution signed by Mr. Timi Coleman on behalf of the group, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

The stakeholders said that appointing an Ijaw native to head the SSDC would compensate for what they described as federal government appointment deficit facing Ijaw.

“As stakeholders and members of the APC family, we have resolved to continually push for the appointment of an Ijaw person for the position of the Managing Director, South-South Development Commission (SSDC).

“This is to equate the appointment deficits confronting Ijaw people.

“We are therefore appealing to Mr. President to consider our appeal and heed to our request for an Ijaw person to occupy that position,” they said.

The stakeholders comprising local government party chairmen, women leaders, national assembly members among others, also called for unity in APC, Delta branch.

They said it was a united APC that become victorious in the 2027 general elections.

“Delta Ijaw APC family doesn’t belong to any faction,” they said.

The stakeholders also unanimously endorsed Tinubu for second term as the president of the country.

“Delta Ijaw APC leadership unanimously endorses President Bola Tinubu, Sen. Joel Onowakpo and Mr. Alapala Ebitonmo for second tenure regarding their performances within few Years in office.

“The leadership also passes a vote of confidence on the party structure led by the National Chairman of the ruling APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Delta Chairman of the party, Chief Omeni Sobotie.

They also said that for fairness and equity, an Ijaw indigene should occupy the state and Delta South senatorial chairmanship positions in APC as well as the state women leaders.

“From inception, Ijaws have never occupied the aforementioned positions,” they said.

One minute silence was observed in honour of Chiefs Edwin Clark and Christopher Porbeni. (NAN)