Niger Delta Govs Cannot Criticise Buhari’s NDDC Nomination Because…. – Group

By Chuks Ekpeneru

Governors of the Niger Delta States have no basis to make any input into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, having contributed to the mismanagement of the resources of the region, the Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) has said.

The group in a statement signed by its National Coordinator Engr.  Jator Abido, Secretary, Mr Kede Michael , and Mr Chinedu Livinus, Rivers State Coordinator NDYC, said the governors have failed to use the huge resources at their disposal to make any meaningful impact in the region.

They declared that the governors were responsible for the poor state of affairs in the region.

NDYC lambasted the governors for criticising President Muhammadu Buhari over the newly constituted Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), alleging that the Act empowering the commission required them to make inputs.

The South-South governors had summoned an emergency meeting where they claimed that politics was the only consideration used in selecting members of the new board which they said was contrary to the provisions of the NDDC Law.

According to the NDYC, “We challenge the governors to individually and collectively give account of their stewardship.

“It is sad that the governors have failed to embark on meaningful initiatives and projects that benefit the region over the years but have rather concentrated on building personal empires to the detriment of the region.

“We have been in the vanguard agitating for better deals for the region from the Federal Government and when consideration is given to the region the governors divert the proceeds to their private pockets.

“The Niger Delta produces the wealth of this nation but has remained the least developed no thanks to our governors. We have over the time called for probe of the NDDC management right from its inception.

“Independent findings have revealed that the governors who influenced appointments in NDDC boards in the past, apart from mismanaging state funds also partake in sharing funds of the commission meant for development.

“It is unfortunate that the governors now find it convenient to criticise the President for appointing people of impeccable character that would oversee the development of the region.

“We challenge the governors to point out the part of the Act establishing NDDC that mandates the state governors to make inputs in the appointment of boards in a federal system”, the statement added.

The group expressed confidence in the new board saying they would deliver on their mandate.

The 16 member board has Dr Pius Odubu from Edo State as Chairman and Mr Bernard Okumagba from Delta State, as the Managing Director.

The Board members are Otobong Ndem from Akwa Ibom, who would serve as the Executive Director, Projects, and Aisha Muhammed from Kano State representing North-West on the board.

Others are Maxwell Okoh from Bayelsa State; Jones Erue from Delta State; Victor Ekhatar from Edo State; Joy Nunieh from Rivers State; Nwogu Nwogu from Abia State; Theodore Allison from Bayelsa State; Victor Antai from Akwa Ibom State; Maurice Effiwatt from Cross River State; Olugbenga Elema from Ondo State and Uchegbu Kyrian from Imo State.

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