Why Edo must produce next MD, chairman of NDDC, by group

A group, the Benin National Congress (BNC) has raised the alarm over alleged plans to deprive Edo State of its right in the next board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), especially it’s Chairman and Managing Director.

It, therefore, issued a nine-day ultimatum to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to intervene in the interest of the NDDC Act, failing which it would commence litigation against the composition of the NDDC board and stakeholders of the Commission.

In a statement issued by its President, Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo in Benin City, yesterday, the group alleged that some politicians had perfected plans to deprive Edo State of its equitable and justifiable place in the yet to be composed NDDC board.

“We have it on good authority that consistent with the spirit and letters of the NDDC Act, and the relevance of Edo State as host to the largest gas reserves in West Africa, the state deserves the Managing Director or Executive Director in the new board.

“But those who do not mean well for the peace and harmony in the region have perfected plans to appropriate the positions to Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states that have had multiple shares of those positions.

Edokpolo said positions like Managing Director or Executive Director have been the desire of Edo people and that they hope getting those positions would be an opportunity to draw attention to the many years of neglect of its oil host communities when compared to less endowed oil-bearing states of the Niger Delta region.

He added that the tragedy of underdevelopment of the Niger Delta states was not unconnected with the big four Niger Delta States that they must revolve the Managing Director and Executive Directors among themselves, against the dictates of the NDDC Act, as amended.