The Niger Delta Stakeholders Coalition, led by Amb. Alfred Etuk has thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for reappointing Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) while pledging to support the new management and leadership under Ogbuku.
In a meeting on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, with the MD, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the stakeholders, drawn from the nine Niger Delta states and the civil society canvassed for the development of the region using available resources for human capital development, especially, youth and women development and participation of community people in all activities of the commission.
One of the leaders of the ex-agitators from Akwa Ibom, General Skiller, said it was time for youth leaders and ex-agitators to support the new leadership in other to bring development to the Niger Delta.
He said they would support the MD to succeed till the end of his tenure.
He asked the ex-agitators to shun vuolent acts as it leads to distraction for the new NDDC leadership, and also brings nothing meaningful for all.
Skiller, who is the chairman of Ex-agitators Forum in Akwa Ibom State, appraised the approach and giant strides of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku on his pragmatic measures to change the narratives and bring development to the people of the region.
The leadership of the coalition further praised Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his wise decision to maintain the current Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, "who is young with good vision and capacity to harvest our resources for sustained development with landmark projects across the region."
Meanwhile, Mr. Isaac Green, who spoke on behalf the Niger Delta Anti-Corruption Network, said for any meaningful progress to return to the region, for accountability and transparency, the presidency must, as a matter of fact, allow the leadership of the commission as constituted to stand.
He said, "the Act establishing the NDDC, is tenured, as such those appointed to serve must be allowed to run the commission till the end of their tenure rather than being removed at will like we have witnessed in the past."
He thanked the President for the reappointment even though the people of the region were looking forward to the report of the forensic audit.
Further speaking, Amb. Alfred Etuk, a former S.A. on youth in the NDDC, also applauded the leadership of the 10th Senate (Senator Godswill Akpabio) for transmitting the love of Mr. President to the Niger Delta people in putting round peg in a round hole.
He said that the era of unnecessary distractions would no longer be condoned by youths used by the enemies of the Niger Delta to hamper development of the region.
"The leadership of the management team must be ready to work for the people", he said.
The coalition further advised the newly appointed Board of the NDDC and its members to always remain together while pushing for the implementation of the programmes of NDDC as put forward by the new management without rancour.
"We have to avoid what we witnessed in the last Board, where the Board and the Management team where never in consonant with each other.
"We also want to thank the present MD for his managerial approach to de-escalating of the issues that would have thorn the management apart.
"We are confident with the leadership of the Senate for the robust relationship between the Presidency and the legislators which is paying off in the nomination and further clearance of the current NDDC leadership for the overall benefit of the Niger Delta people," he said.
The statement was signed by Amb. Alban Paulinus, Amb. Alfred Etuk, and Comrade Green Isaac.
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