- Declares 3-man NDDC committee illegal
By Steve Seigha, Warri
Hundreds of Niger Delta youths on Monday have converged in Warri and threatened a mass action, if federal government delays the formal inauguration of the new NDDC board immediately.
They also said that apart from the inauguration of the board, they want federal government to dissolve the Chief Akpabio’s NDDC interim committee which they described illegal, unconstitutional and abberation.
They also said President Muhammadu Buhari should take over the supervision of NDDC forensic audit and not the Niger Delta Minister Chief Godswill Akpabio who they alleged did not have the credibility to oversee the forensic audit of NDDC.
Niger Delta youths which comprised various ethnic nationalities and the states led by Barr. Eric Omare, National President Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) world-wide, said ‘‘ We hold this press conference because we want the new NDDC board to be immediately inaugurated. We also want federal government to dissolve the NDDC interim 3-man committee as it is illegal, baseless, abberation and unconstitutional against the NDDC act. We also want President Muhammadu Buahar to take over the supervision of the NDDC forensic audit and not Chief Godswill Akpabio who did not have the credibility to carry out such honorous task on behalf of the federal government and the good people of Niger Delta’’ the youths said.
They insisted, ‘’ We will not allow cabal and power seekers to take over NDDC. NDDC was created to develop the Niger Delta region. But some politicians want to turn NDDC a conduit pipe. When former President set up a forensic audit in NNPC, no new interim committee was set up to take over the management of NDDC. Why Chief Akapabio wants to take over NDDC management with an interim committee. And don’t forget, Dr Gbene Joi Nunieh one of the 3-man committee is also a member of the forensic audit committee which sounds abnormal.’’ The youths noted.
It could be recalled last week that Niger Delta Minister, Godswill Akpabio, through the federal government had appointed a 3-man interim NDDC baord which comprised the following persons, Dr Gbene Joi Nunieh will serve as Acting Managing Director, while Dr. Cairo Ojougboh will be Acting Executive Director, Projects and Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang will serve as the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration.
The Niger Delta youths insisted that the Interim NDDC committee is an attempt by Niger Delta minister, Godswill Akpabio to take over the management of the board illegally. Therefore, they vowed they would resist it with everything possible within their disposal.
