The nomination of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board of Trustees members by President Bola Tinubu yesterday elicited reactions from stakeholders in some of the nine oil states.
In Cross River and Ondo, stakeholders faulted the naming of some members while in Rivers and Delta, they hailed Tinubu’s choices.
Tinubu on Tuesday announced Samuel Ogbuku from Bayelsa as substantive managing director and Chiedu Ebie from Delta as chairman.
Boma Iyaye (Rivers), Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom), Ifedayo Abegunde (Ondo), Dimaro Denyanbofa (Bayelsa), Abasi Nkono(Akwa Ibom), Monday Igbuya (Delta) were made executive directors.
Others are Tony Okocha (Rivers); Patrick Aisowieren (Edo); Kyrian Uchegbu (Imo), Victor Akinjo (Ondo), Dimgba Eruba (Abia), Asu Oku Okang (Cross River); Nick Wende (North -Central), Namdas Abdulrazak (North -East) and Ibrahim Gobir (North-West).
But in Cross River, youth groups and the state All Progressives Congress (APC), who took to the streets of Calabar, said it was wrong for Okang to be appointed. They said Okang is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member.
They moved from Millennium Park to APC Secretariat where they were received by party’s chair, Alphonsus Eba.
From APC secretariat, the placard-bearing youths moved to state office of NDDC where they asked workers to close for the day.
Some placards read,
“ People died for APC to succeed in Cross River State; “We say no for Asu Okang; ” “We say enough is enough for external hands; ” “Let Cross River make their choice;” and “PDP cannot enjoy while APC suffers in Cross River State”
Their spokesman, Ekpenyong Akiba, said,
“We are aware the position of National Women Leader that was domicilled in Cross River State has been taken elsewhere, whereas we are fighting to get that back. We woke up to see another misnomer shamefully, an appointment that has not been consulted, an appointment that is a gross violation of the law.”
He argued that Okang was from a non-oil-producing area and was not supposed to have been appointed.
Edem Ebong, chairman of All APC Support Group in the state, said;
“It is abnormal, it is an aberration. We suffered for APC in Cross River but to our surprise, a staunch PDP man has been given appointment. I am standing to say we reject Mr. Asu Okang.”
APC State Chair, Eba, told the protesters the party rejected Okang’s appointment.
He said,
“We say no to the nomination of not just the PDP opposition but the young man. This is like pouring salt or fuel to injury.
“I want to believe and we all want to believe that Mr. President is not aware of these and because the President is not aware, the best approach will be for us to officially write to him.”
Also, the APC and Indigenes of Ondo State under the aegis of ‘The Progressive Advocates Initiative faulted Akinjo’s nomination on the grounds that he was a PDP member,
Although the APC commended Tinubu for nominating Abegunde as an executive director, it said Akinjo’s choice could demoralise its members who contributed to the party’s success in the state.
“The leadership of the ruling party in Ondo appeals to our dear president to take a second look at the appointment of Mr Akinjo, to avoid the unpleasant situation of ‘Monkey dey work, Baboon dey chop’,” it said in a statement by its Spokesman, Alex Kalejaye.
The Advocates Initiative said that Tinubu should have nominated an Ondo indigene as the managing director of the NDDC.
The group, which argued it was the turn of the state, urged the President to reverse the nomination of Ogbuku in the spirit of equity, and justice.
It said,
“We would like to emphasise that it is the turn of Ondo State to produce the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“For several years, Bayelsa State has occupied this position, creating an imbalance in the representation of different states within the NDDC.
“As a state that has made contributions to development of oil and gas, Ondo deserves its share of leadership of this crucial organisation.”
In a statement by its Chairman, Augustine Akinkunmi, and secretary, Adebayo Adubiaro, the group said Ondo suffered the deprivation because Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was not around.
It added,
“Mr. President, one major concern we wish to highlight is the nomination of Kolade Akinjo as representative of Ondo State.
“It will interest you to know that Akinjo was the candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in February 25 House of Representatives election for the Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency. However, he lost to our party, APC.”
But in many Southsouth states, stakeholders lauded the President.
They thanked Tinubu for giving Ogbuku a fresh opportunity to lead NDDC.
The stakeholders included Chairman of Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, Bubaraye Dakolo; National Coordinator Southsouth Leadership Forum (SSLF), Anabs Sara-Igbe and Niger Delta Youths Initiative for Peace
Dakolo said,
“I want to thank the President for appointing this board on time. In the past, we have suffered situations where we have had interim administrations forever. So, I want to thank him for retaining Dr. Sam Ogbuku. I believe same quality of persons are in the states.”
Sara-Igbe, former publicity secretary of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said the people were elated by the choice of Ogbuku.
He assured the President of Ogbuku’s capability to tame the violence in the region.
But leaders of APC Delta South Senatorial District decried exclusion of Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko of Delta South Senatorial District from the list.
They lauded the President for reconstituting the board to bring an end to ‘the uncertainty and chaos of interminable acting management teams which have paralysed the commission in the last three years’.
The leaders include Chairman Isoko and Chief Lucky. Esigie; Co-chairman Ijaw, Felix Datuowei and Evans Omatsoguwa.
