Buhari Shocks Family Friend, Drops Her As NDDC Boss

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

In a shocking move, President Muhammadu Buhari has effected a change in the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and at the same time increased the membership of the interim board from three to five.

Barrister Joi Nunieh, a well-known associate of the president and his family was the major casualty in the latest development as she lost her position as acting managing director. She is to be replaced as managing director by Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, a professor of medicine.

She had been a political and family associate of Buhari’s from his earliest days in politics. That relationship, however, suffered a temporary setback when she worked with Diezanni Allison-Madueke during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

No reason has been given for the surprising development which is bound to shock many who know the long but sometimes difficult relationship between the Buharis and Ms. Nunieh.

She, however, subsequently bounced back to reckoning as a confidant of the Buhari family.

It was based on her nomination as acting managing director in the interim board that many believed that the board screened by the Senate last year was still born. Nunieh who was nominated to represent Rivers State on the board refused to appear before the Senate apparently confident of the fact that the board was still-born.

Following her appointment, she had taken the NDDC by storm with a vow to sweep the commission of the rot she alleged had been practiced in the intervention agency over the years.

Her replacement is a relatively unknown and apolitical university professor.

The statement from the presidential villa issued by Femi Adesina revealing the development read thus:

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the enlargement of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from three to five.

“The five members of the committee are now: Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, who is the Ag. Managing Director, replacing Barrister Joy Nunieh; Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Ag. Executive Director (Projects); Mr Ibanga Bassey Etang, Ag. Executive Director (Finance and Administration); Mrs Caroline Nagbo (Member); and Cecilia Bukola Akintomide, OON, a former Vice President with African Development Bank, (Member).

“Prof K.D Pondei, the new Ag. Managing Director, is a Professor of Medicine at the Niger Delta University, and former Provost, College of Health Sciences of the institution. President Buhari had earlier approved that the Interim Management Committee would be in place till the forensic audit of the NDDC was concluded,” he said.

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