Group Urges Buhari To Reverse Nddc Md Position To Ondo

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

A sociocultural group, under the auspices of ‘Egbe Omo Ilaje’ from Ondo state has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse as a matter of urgency, the appointment of the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from Delta state to Ondo state or to approach the law court.

The group while addressing a press conference on Monday in Akure, Ondo state capital said that the first four states of Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa having all produced the Managing Directors of the commission, but now the turn of Ondo state as the fifth highest producer to occupy the office.

Mr. Edamisan Ogunfeyijimi, the National Secretary of Egbe Omo Ilaje, the apex sociocultural organization in Ilaje who spoke on behalf of the group, maintained that the people of the oil producing area of Ondo state would not accept anything short of the position of the Managing Director of the commission, for which according to him are long due.

According to him, the history of the commission, since inception in year 2000 shows that the NDDC Act has been observed in flagrant breach in many respects, particularly in the appointment of the Managing Director and the two Executive Director which positions have been held exclusively by the four members states of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa contrary to the letters and spirit of the act.

Quoting from the Act that established the commission, Ogunfeyijimi stated that “NDDC Act, CAP N86 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and commencing from 12th July, 2000 Section 12 reads that “There shall be for the commission a Managing Director and two Executive Directors who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the member states of the commission with the highest production quantum of oil and shall rotate amongst member states in order of production. ”

The group alleged that the NDDC Act has been breached severally, “particularly in the position of the Managing Director, which has been held exclusively by the four member states of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa, contrary to the Act.”

The group, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to review the appointments, saying “We enjoin President Muhammadu Buhari to personally review the announced appointments and ensure full compliance with the provisions of the NDDC Act.

The group also called on the legislators at the National Assembly “to ensure that the peaceful coexistence of the peoples of the region is not jeopardized on the altar of political expediency.”

Nevertheless, the group declared that if the government failed to address its grievances, it would have no option that to approach the law court.

“We are ready to challenge government in the court of law. The court will do justice to this.

“Besides, our youths in Ilaje are ready to go to any length to demand for their rights legitimately.

“I believe there are some cabals working to ensure that the appointments were done when the President was not around.

“But we believe very strongly that President Buhari is an upright man and will rectify this,” Ogunfeyijimi said.