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From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
A pressure, Niger Delta Puritans (NDP) has faulted the appointment of Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Owhavborua’s as the acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The group Audu-Owhavborua’s appointment was not only a blatant violation of the NDDC Act, but a ploy ostensibly designed to stagnate the Niger Delta Development Plan by the President Muhammadu Buhari -led administration.
Coordinator of the group, Timipre Ebiowei in a statement, also blamed the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Okon Umana Umana, for allegedly orchestrating Audu-Owhavborua’s appointment, which he insisted, was against the president’s directive.
“President Buhari, an avowed stickler for due process had consented to the disengagement of the Interim Administrator of the NDDC, and subsequently approved the appointment of the most senior director to oversee the affairs of the commission pending the appointment of a substantive Managing Director and members of the Governing Board in accordance with the Federal Government Circular dated 4th December 2017 referenced 50/S/C.2/268,” Ebiowei stated.
The statement further opined that, for unknown reasons at variance with President Buhari’s directive based on the extant circular, the minister allegedly discarded the “commission’s regulations and catapulted Audu-Owhavborua, the most junior of the three ranking directors, ahead of two superiors; Ms Racheal Oddiri, who was appointed substantive director in 2013 and presently, the most senior director having been with the commission since the days of OMPADEC.
“There is also Mr. Serigha Glasgow, who joined the commission through a former MD, Timi Alaibe as a deputy director. Let it be established that Audu-Ohwavborua who is perceived to be ‘highly connected is being peddled to mislead Mr. President to approve the appointment.”1
Ebiowei queried the rationale for appointing another acting Managing Director when an interim administrator has just been disengaged.
“We, the Niger Delta Puritans have been impeccably informed that this endless one step forward, two steps backwards movement is being orchestrated to elongate Audu-Owhavborua’s tenure till June 2023 and if encouraged, it portend grave danger to President Buhari’s unalloyed commitment to the development of the Niger-Delta region,” it concluded.
