A prominent Rivers indigene and former chairman of the Rivers State Energy Bureau, Chief Jasper Jumbo, has called on the elders of the state to rise up to the challenge and make peace among the warring factions in the on-going crisis in the state.

Chief Jumbo, who stated this in a chat with Airport correspondents, said those fanning the crisis are not patriotic and should be cautioned.

He explained that the elders should no longer stay aloof and watch the crisis degenerate further but play their elderly role by making concerted efforts to bring about peace.

The former chairman of the Energy Bureau, said the ongoing crisis, though a PDP affair but the entire people were feeling the impact of the crisis, and enjoined the warring factions to sheath their sword.

According to him, “God makes and ummakes Kings, we must think about the interest of the state to make peace, while calling on all stakeholders to prevail on the architects of the crisis to retrace their steps.

Chief Jumbo, who is passionate about the issues of the Niger Delta, lauded the last Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Chris Oboh, for the face-lift he has given to the headquarters of the commission, particularly the remodelling of the security gate and parking space.

The former chairman, who claimed to be responsible for producing the Niger Delta blue print that led to the creation of the NDDC, said the last board did much to refocus the commission but blamed them for the failure to pay contractors before leaving office.

He remarked that the commission was put in place to address some of the developmental challenges of the Niger Delta people for bearing the brunt of oil exploitation.

Chief Jumbo opined that the ongoing crisis was affecting the delivery of dividends of democracy to Rivers people, and urged the parties to put the interest of the state above personal considerations.