South-South condemns attack on Ogbuku, NDDC, holds solidarity rally

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

A pressure group, South-South Integrity Group for Good Governance, has condemned attacks on the board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

To this end, the group has strongly frowned at the purported planned protest by the Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Organisations against Ebie and Ogbuku.

The group’s coordinator, High Chief Alex Alabo Nathan, in a statement, accused those planning the protests of being sponsored by desperate politicians and contractors.

According to the group, the NDDC board chairman, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, and the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, have piloted the affairs of the commission creditably well to the admiration of millions of Niger Deltans.

The statement in part: “Today, across the Niger Delta states, several abandoned projects are ongoing and in some cases completed. Our cities and communities are beaming at night because of the solar lights provided by the NDDC.

“The commission has built and renovated several roads, bridges, schools, modern lodges for NYSC members and also opened up many creeks and canals to mitigate flooding and other purposes.

“As critical stakeholders of the region, we are very pleased with the unique performance of the two leaders and indeed the entire NDDC and we urge them to continue on this progressive path,” the group stated.

“It is only the generality of the Niger Delta people that can demand the sack of NDDC leaders. Ebie and Ogbuku are more than qualified to be at the helm.

“Besides, their appointment by President Bola Tinubu was in line with the Nigerian Constitution and the NDDC Act and they have so far been discharging their statutory duties diligently. Thus any selfish call for their sack will end in futility.

“We will not fold our hands and watch desperate people thwart the significant efforts made by this current NDDC leadership to improve the lives of our people.”