*Onochie will carry the president's vision for Niger Delta - Ohaneze
*Ogbuku understands the challenges of the Niger Delta- IYC
Reactions have continued to trail the nomination of new members for the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Ohaneze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide on Wednesday described the appointment of Mrs. Lauretta Onochie as the Chairman, and board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC as putting a round peg in a round hole.
In a statement, by its Director General, Strategic Planning and Implementation, Ambassador Chiemelu Obizoba, the Igbo socio-cultural group said Onochie is experienced enough to understand President Buhari's policy thrust and the desires of the people of the Niger Delta region.
According to the statement: “The gladdening news came to us very pleasing because the appointment of a no-nonsense personality like Onochie is undoubtedly putting a round peg in a round hole.
“As a bonafide daughter of the oil-rich region, she knows where the shoe pinches the people and, as digital and social media aide of President Muhammadu Buhari for over seven years now, she is groomed enough to know the mindset of the President and his vision and mission for the good of the Niger Delta people.
"To us, we are glad and we congratulate the new Board Chairman, Lauretta Onochie, and thank President Muhammadu Buhari for making one of our own and our fantastic mentor fit for the top position.
Image:Channels Television
“It is our hope and belief that the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, and other members of the Red Chamber of the National Assembly will consider and confirm the President's choice of Lauretta Onochie as substantial Chairman of the NDDC Board without delay.”
Ijaw Youth Council
The Ijaw Youth Council( IYC) Worldwide, on Wednesday, also praised President Buhari for nominating Chief Samuel Ogbuku Bayelsa state as the substantive Managing Director of, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), saying
nomination of the board members which had been expected for long brought relief to the council and all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.
IYC President, Timothy Peter Igbifa described Ogbuku as a seasoned administrator who understands the problems and challenges of the Niger Delta and can confront them.
He said the inauguration of the board with representation from all the member states will ensure that the commission is run democratically as provided by the Act establishing it.
Ibiza said, "We were relentless in mobilizing our people in the Niger Delta to resist the sole administration foisted on NDDC that negated the principles of equity, fairness, and justice enshrined in the Act, which stipulates that a board with representatives from all the member states must at all time run the affairs of the commission.
Image:Daily Post
“We are happy that our efforts as a council have paid off and we commend President Muhammadu Buhari for doing the right thing. It is better late than never."
The IYC President, however, urged the Senate to screen the board nominees without delay to avoid unnecessary distractions that could derail the President's directive and abort the collective hope of the Niger Delta.
This is the second time President Buhari has submitted a list of candidates for the NDDC board for approval.
In 2021, he forwarded the first list of nominees for the board, which was reviewed and approved by the Senate.
Senate President Lawan explained that the earlier list was defective, which is why President Buhari decided to send a new list of nominees for confirmation.
The NDDC Board Nominees in this second and latest list are:
Chairman – Laureta Ifeanyi Onochie (Delta, South-South)
Dimgba Erugba, State representative (Abia, South-East)
Dr. Ene Wilcox (Akwa Ibom, State Representative, South-South)
Dr. Pius Odudu (Edo, South-South)
Hon.Gbenga Odegba (Ondo, South-West)
Engr. Anthony Ekene (Imo, South-East)
Onyekachi Dimgba (Rivers, South-South)
Alhaji Mohammed Kabiru Abubakar (Zonal Representative, Nasarawa)
Professor Tallen Mamman, SAN (North-East Representative, Adamawa)
Sonique Sani (North-West, Zonal Representative)
Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku (MD)
General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (Rtd) (Executive of Finance)
Charles Ogunmola (Executive Director Project, South-West)
Elder Denyanbofa Dimaro (Bayelsa State),
Hon. Orok Duke ( Cross River),
NDDC, Image: SaharaReporters
According to This Day, the deputy president of the senate, senator Ovie Omo-Agege pointed out that contrary to what was read at plenary, Delta State was not adequately represented in the NDDC board.
Senator Thompson Sekibo of Rivers State also complained that the President has yet to inaugurate an earlier board that was screened and confirmed in 2020 by the Senate.
However, Lawan reassured Omo-Agege that the executive would be made aware of the situation before the parliament began the screening process and that the issues brought up by Sekibo would also be addressed.
A group in the Niger Delta region on Tuesday warned that if the Federal Government failed to constitute the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC within 14 days it would take actions that may hurt the economic interests of the country.
The group, the Niger Delta Patriots also called on the Nigerian government to immediately act to restore critical infrastructures destroyed by the recent devastating flooding in the region.
In a press conference at Asaba, Delta state on Tuesday the convener, Victor Okwereogu, co-convener, David Omori, and the secretary, Obaro Unuafe said
The Niger Delta Patriot was deeply concerned with the campaign of calumny from various quarters aimed at derailing the NDDC project and condemned some leaders from the region for being a part of the problem.
Politics and Opinion
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