• Group rejects Ondo nominees, insists on MD position
Reactions have continued to trail the appointment of a new board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Some of the stakeholders, particularly from the South South, have commended President Bola Tinubu for the appointment of an experienced technocrat, Chiedu Ebie, as the new chairman of the commission, while retaining Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director (MD).
The stakeholders believe that merit has overruled sentiments in Ebie’s appointment.
They noted that for the first time, a true son of the Niger Delta, who is conversant with the enormous challenges in the oil-producing states and has a proven track record, has been appointed to chair the board.
Chairman, Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Bubaraye Dakolo, said he was happy that Tinubu appointed a substantive board on time, unlike previous governments, who had interim administrations.
Also, the South South Leadership Forum has applauded Tinubu for the appointment of NDDC board members and retention of Ogbuku as the substantive MD of the commission.
The forum said that the President’s action was what the people of the Niger Delta have been praying for, considering that a new board and the management team will be allowed to run a full term of four years as provided for in the NDDC Act 2000 or the enabling law.
The National Coordinator of the group and former National Publicity Secretary/ spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Anabs Sara-Igbe, stated this in a statement, yesterday.
Sara-Igbe called on the National Assembly, particularly the Senate to diligently and urgently screen and approve those appointed to enable them hit the ground running.
However, a group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Progressive Advocates Initiative, has insisted that it is the turn of Ondo State to produce the MD of NDDC and not Bayelsa State.
While emphasising that Bayelsa has, for years, occupied the position, the group stated that according to the NDDC Act, and based on the rotational agreement, it is Ondo’s turn to produce the commission’s MD.
The group, in a letter addressed to Tinubu, which was signed by its Chairman, Augustine Akinkunmi, and Secretary, Adebayo Adubiaro, also rejected the appointment of the two nominees from Ondo as board members.
