Showdown Over Mgt Of NDDC As Senate Asks New Board To Take Over From Interim Management

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

A showdown in the control of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC was brewing on Tuesday after the Senate confirmed a 15 man board for the commission with a charge to it to takeover from the Interim Management Committee, IMC constituted by the minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Only one of the 16 nominees presented to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari that was not confirmed. She is incidentally, Dr. Joy Yimebe Nunieh the representative for Rivers State who is incidentally the chairman of the IMC of the NDDC. She did not present herself for Senate screening.

The Senate declaration to the new board to take over was voiced by Senate President Ahmad Lawan following the adoption of the report of the Senator Peter Nwaoboshi led committee on Niger Delta which screened and cleared the nominees for the board.

Lawan had said: ” there is no ambiguity in this matter, President Buhari forwarded to us nominees for appointments into the board and as soon as we finish  with the process , any other structure is vitiated.

“With the completion of this process now (the confirmation), I am sure that any other structure that exists now (in the NDDC) is vitiated. I don’t think we have anything to worry about because this is one thing that is clearly established by the law.

Senator Lawan it was gathered was mouthing the opinion of senators who are displeased with the appointment of the interim management of the NDDC.

President Buhari had given vent to the committee to clean the agency while a forensic audit is carried out in the agency.

However, senators who are desirous of playing a role in the agency are keen to get the new board to take over.

The senators against the committee are understandably led by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the deputy president of the Senate who brought forward the managing director nominee and the Delta State representative nominee, Mr. Bernard Okumagba and Prophet Jones Erue respectively.

The nominees confirmed were:

1. Dr Pius Odubu – Edo Chairman

2. Bernard O. Okumagba Delta – MD

3. Engr. Otobong Ndem – Akwa Ibom – Ex. Director

4. Maxwell Oko – Bayelsa – Ex. Director

5. Prophet Jones Erue – Delta – Delta Rep.

6. Chief Victor Ekhator – Edo – Edo Rep.

7. Nwogu N. Nwogu – Abia – Abia Rep.

8. Theodore A. Allison – Bayelsa – Bayelsa Rep

9. Victor Antai – Akwa-Ibom – Akwa Ibom Rep.

10. Maurice Efiwatt – Cross River – C/R Rep

11. Olugbenga Edema – Ondo – Ondo Rep.

12. Uche Chidiebere Kyrian – Imo – Imo Rep.

13. Aisha Murtala Mohammed – Kano – N/W

14. Shuaibu Ardo Zubairu – Adamawa – N/E

15. Amb. Abdullahi M. Bage – N/C

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