THE WIKE DIATRIBE ON NDDC A DISTRACTION: NOT ACCEPTABLE AT THIS TIME.
The use of expletives emanating from Ex- Governor Ezenwo Wike on the NDDC as a cash cow is not acceptable if the inference is on this present management team. The statement made by Ex- Governor Wike is misplaced and can be referred to as careless talk from an individual who want to use the bashing of the NDDC to further his intent to score a cheap political mileage and further cosy is way into the heart of President Bola Tinubu for political patronage.
It will be disingenuous for anyone for that matter to make unsubstantiated claim and smear the leadership that is trying hard to make a difference to develop a pathway for the infrastructural development of the region even with the meagre resources that is available at it’s disposal.
Why we are not dismissing the Ex Governor’s assertion in totality, we agree that there has been some questionable developments and unwholesome practice’s in the recent past that leaves repugnant taste in the mouth, but it has not always been gloom and doom. No doubt there has been many very good deeds earned by the NDDC, which abound everywhere in the Niger Delta area therefore to paint the agency with one brush would be nocuous.
I thought the political leadership from the region and all those who are close to the President should be lobbying the President to approve and release all the backlog of revenue shortfall due to the NDDC for purposes of providing a best- in – class infrastructure across the region and pursue human capital development that we lack, bring the youthful population out of poverty and empower our rural women to become self sustaining including encouraging our people to embrace agriculture. This is what is expected from all of us leaders and stakeholders rather than casting aspersion on very serious minded group of managers whom have shown capacity to engage in mega projects like never before in the history of the commission. This is the time we all in the region must come together on one accord to support the management team and not this antics of distraction that has always characterised every leadership of the commission that have shown signs of seriousness. This management team led by Samuel Ogbuku have shown a pathway to doing things differently for the benefit of uplifting critical infrastructure across the region and it’s teeming youthful population to become gainfully employed and also become entrepreneurs.
Everyone of us have to share in the blame for the present state of infrastructure across the region. What we do in the region is what we describe as piecemeal development without proper coordination until the coming of the present Managing Director who have put up a road map that is inclusive of partnering with the state governments in the region to focus on collaboration and synchronise to dovetail into linking other states that boarders states in the region for interconnectivity to boost trade and commerce between states in the country. The Public Private Partnership scheme been developed by the leadership is a novel idea in the commission and it has been applauded by the people of the region within and without.
The visit to the Bayelsa State Government of recent by the Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, is a pointer to the direction of the partnership in major infrastructure development and it is understandable that this is the template already developed by this team to materialise across the south south states.
We urge President Bola Tinubu to tread carefully and allow this present leadership run it’s full course. The President should be reminded that all of thses attacks is imbued with the quest of who will be in control of the levers of power in the body corporate of the NDDC, the attacks are not altruistic afterall. We know the antics of our people, they want to continue to be seen as the only ones expending patronage and must be the ones to be in a position to continue to the detriment of others who are very well qualify to lead. It will not be surprising when we see many of such attacks in the coming days therfore we urge the Managing Director and his team to be uncowed and remain focused at all times to deliver on the mandate.
At this time we will use this opportunity to appeal to President Bola Tinubu, to ensure without further delay order the release of all the monies due the NDDC that has accrued and have been short paid by previous administrations to enable the commission meet it’s set out objectives. There has been many court orders in this direction in the past that have been ignored by successive governments.
Going further the leadership of the CDC is calling for the upward review of the allocation to the NDDC, and also revenues due the commission to become a first line charge henceforth. This is the next project that is on the table of the CDC to be embarked upon and to be actualised for the good and development of our people.
Joseph Ambakederimo,
Chairman Board of Trustees.
Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Producing Areas. (CDC).
Mr. Augustine Iyamu,
Head of Secretariat.
