N-Delta group rejects the appointment of Sole Administrator in NDDC

NDDC

A Niger Delta group, Indigenous People of Niger Delta (IPND) has rejected the recent appointment of a Sole Administrator to run the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, noting that appointment was illegal and a clear violation of the Act establishing the Commission.

 

IPND in a statement issued and signed by its Spokesman, Comrade Obaigbavbiere Joseph said that though they are not questioning the President Muhammadu Buhari’s power to hire and fire, however, they are surprised and indeed worried at the way and manner the Buhari-led federal government has turn deaf ear to the calls by Niger Deltans for the appointment of a substantive management board for the NDDC

 

The group urged Mr President to adhere strictly to the dictates of the NDDC Act as it concerns the rotation of the leadership of the board among the nine (9) member states for unity and equity; this, they say, will engender development in the region.

 

They added that as a major stakeholder in the region, they can no longer seat and watch things go wrong without speaking out; hence the call for the immediate appointment of a substantive board for the commission.

 

The statement reads in part:

“We the Indigenous People of Niger Delta (IPND) reject in totality the appointment of a Sole Administrator to run the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. We insist that the appointment of a Sole Administrator was in violation of the Act establishing the Commission.

 

“As a people, we are concerned by the way and manner the development of the Niger Delta is being continuously threatened under the present administration of President Buhari. This is a sign of total disregard to the dictates of the act establishing the commission.

 

“The Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, which was established by former president Olusegun Obasanjo since 2000 has suffered massive raping and looting by successive boards leaving nothing tangible on the ground to show for the massive funding it has received over these years and the present situation under President Buhari’s preference for an illegal and unconstitutional management team in the guise of Interim Management Committee, IMC and the most recently announced Sole Administrator is alien to us and we reject it.

 

“Let it be made known that we the Indigenous People Of Niger Delta (IPND) are not questioning the powers vested on Mr President by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to hire and fire, but we are surprised and indeed worried the way and manner at which President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government has turn deaf ear to the calls by Niger Deltans for a substantive management board for the NDDC to be appointed and inaugurated and do away with interim management teams or any Sole Administrator.

 

“Owing to this reality, therefore, we the Indigenous People Of Niger Delta (IPND) has not been and will not be willing tools in the hand of those who do not mean well for our people. Thus, can no longer sit and watch things go wrong without airing our view or make our position known to the relevant authorities in other to change the narrative. As such, the call for the immediate appointment of a substantive board cannot be overemphasized.

 

“We call and appeal to President Buhari to adhere strictly to the dictates of the NDDC Act as it concerns the rotation of the leadership of the board among the nine (9) member states to portray unity and equity.

 

“The Indigenous People Of Niger Delta (IPND) wishes to seize this medium to passionately appeal to Those within the Presidency not to jeopardize the peace and economic stability the Nation and South-South are currently enjoying by actions that go contrary to the collective demand of Niger Deltans. There is no better time for the presidency to put a substantive board in place to manage the NDDC than now.”