Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
A Niger Delta stakeholders coalition have lauded President Bola Tinubu for the re-appointment of Dr Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The coalition led by Mr Alfred Etuk also pledged their support to the new management and leadership under Dr Ogbuku.
The stakeholders drawn from the nine Niger Delta States and Civil Society Organisations, canvass for the development of the region using the available resources for human capital development especially, youth, women development and participation of the community people in all activities of the commission.
The coalition expressed their support during their meeting with the NDDC boss in Port Harcourt.
A member of the coalition and one of the leaders of ex-agitators in Akwa Ibom State, who gave his name as General Skiller, said it was time for youth leaders and ex-agitators to support the new leadership in order to bring development to Akwa Ibom state and other parts of Niger Delta region.
He said they will support the MD to succeed till the end of his tenure. He also asked the ex-agitators to shun destruction, saying that such activities leads to distraction for the new NDDC leadership and bring nothing meaningful for all.
The leadership of the coalition further praised President Tinubu for his decision to maintain the current Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, whom they described as “young with good vision and capacity to harvest our resources for sustained development with land mark project across the region”.
Meanwhile, Mr Isaac Green who spoke on behalf the Niger Delta Anti-Corruption Network at the meeting, said for any meaningful progress to return to the region, for accountability and transparency purposes the presidency must as a matter of fact allow the leadership of the commission as constituted to stand.
He said, “the acts establishing the NDDC, is tenured as such those appointed to serve must be allowed to run the commission till the end of their tenure rather than being removed at will like we have witnessed in the past”.
Green thanked the President for the reappointment even though the people of the region are looking forward to the report of the forensic audit.
Etuk, a former Special Adviser on youth in the NDDC also applaud the leadership of the 10th Senate ‘for transmitting the love of Mr. President to the Niger Delta people in putting round spade in a round hole”.
He said that the era of unnecessary distraction will no longer be condoned by youth used by the enemies of the Niger Delta to hamper development of the region, adding that “The leadership of the management team must be ready to work for the people”.
The coalition further advice the newly appointed Board of the NDDC and it members to work unity while pushing for the implementation of the programs of NDDC as put forward by the new management without rancour.
