Group urge protesters to back NDDC leadership

The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) Worldwide and the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NDENYLF), on Saturday, called on protesters demanding a Delta State indigene as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to stand down and embrace dialogue.

Recalled that the Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Network recently petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting on the appointment of a Delta State indigene to replace Dr. Samuel Ugbuku and accusing the NDDC management of corruption and mismanagement. The group also threatened protests if their demands were not met.

Speaking in Abuja after engaging the protesters, NDYC National Coordinator, Engr. Jator Abido, dismissed the allegations, emphasizing that the current NDDC management is performing well and should be supported rather than opposed.

The NDYC vowed to counter the protests and rejected the allegations that there is mismanagement in NDDC as well as insinuations that the NDDC Act was breached in the appointment of the NDDC Board.

Abido said: “What we have witnessed here is needless and there’s no need to protest and or to disturb the peace of the FCT simply because we want a change in leadership or we are dissatisfied with a leader.

“So far the current management of NDDC has performed credibly well and we must put sentiments and support them.

“Mr. President is an attentive leader who listens to his people. It is therefore misleading to insinuate that Mr. President breach the NDDC Act in appointing the current Board of NDDC.

“Those propagating such falsehood are only interested in enriching themselves at the expense of the masses in the region.

“It is imperative to note that supporting the current management of NDDC is supporting Mr President and his Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We all know that Mr President wants the Best for the Niger Delta region and could not have gone against the law or remain silent if there was mismanagement of our collective resources by a few.”

The NDYC also commended the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Security Service for professionally managing the situation and preventing an escalation.

Abido added, “We are grateful for the Securities for their intervention. The escalation between the Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Network and the NDYC Worldwide was uncalled for but we remain steadfast in our support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Dr. Samuel Ugbuku and Chiedu Evie led NDDC. We do not have any personal interests except to ensure sustainable development of our region.”

In a joint statement, NDYC Board of Trustees member Engr. Beke Apere and Public Relations Officer Comr. Akowien Joshua, urged all aggrieved parties to rally behind the Ugbuku-led NDDC for the collective progress of the region.

They called on Niger Delta youths and stakeholders to shun violence and embrace dialogue, warning that protests could be hijacked by external forces seeking to destabilize the already fragile region.