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Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) has condemned incessant dissolution of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board.
The group of royal fathers said the trend has caused, instead of curb, instability, fear of the unknown and increased corruption in the system.
The association, in Port Harcourt, River State, yesterday, regretted that from inception, not more than two boards had survived their four-year tenures as prescribed by law.
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Recall that former President Muhammadu Buhari, after a long wait, on January 2023, inaugurated the recently dissolved board by President Bola Tinubu, few weeks after he assumed office.
A statement signed by the first Deputy National Chairman of TROMPCON, Dr. Obafemi Ogbaro, and the National Secretary, Eze Emmanuel Assor, said: “The trend is condemnable; it does not only affect completion of projects, but also allows improper execution of jobs and other associated social vices.
“We, therefore, want to say that the incessant dissolution of NDDC boards is worrisome.”
The royal fathers further stated that TROMPCON has been fundamental to the growth of the agency, particularly in ensuring and enforcing peace accords, bur lamented that they are seldom recognised and appreciated. They, however, promised to continue to do their best to entrench development in the region.
“We have been watching most issues with utter dismay as core issues are politicised. Evidently, the Federal Government dictates tenets of the Commission, while showing little or no recourse to traditional rulers’ participation,” they added.
The group also congratulated Tinubu on his recent appointment as Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), describing him as a pragmatic leader.
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