Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
Ijaw Youth Council has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency set up a probe panel to look into the revenues and expenditures of the Niger Delta Development Commission under the leadership of the Managing Director, Chief Samuel Ogbuku.
IYC, which expressed serious concerns over the state of affairs in the Niger Delta region under the current leadership of the commission, in a statement by its spokesman, Comrade Bedford Benjamin Berefa, said the IYC had lost confidence in the Ogbuku-led management and had passed a vote of no confidence in him.
Berefa pointed out that the current NDDC management lacks transparency and accountability in its dealings.
He called on President Tinubu to intervene and thoroughly investigate the commission’s income and expenditures, emphasizing that the funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta must be used properly to benefit the people.
He said, “IYC’s stance highlights the growing frustration and restiveness among the youths in the region, demanding accountability and effective management of resources to improve living conditions and foster regional development in the oil rich region.
“The Ijaw Youth Council’s call for action is a clear message to the government that the people of the Niger Delta will no longer tolerate mismanagement and inefficiency, hoping that with President Tinubu’s intervention, there will be a positive change in the NDDC’s operations and a better future for the region.”
IYC alleged that Ogbuku was reportedly involved in a multi billion Naira corruption cases during Lauretta Onochie administration where documents of alleged fraudulent acts were provided, adding that he was able to retained the position of Managing Director because the NDDC which has allegedly served as a conduit pipe to individuals in high places.
He stated further: “Recently N1.7 trillion was released by International Oil Companies to the NDDC and the Board is using N50 billion to mobilize and induced Niger Delta traditional rulers, leaders, stakeholders and youths leaders to support him to continually perpetrate his agenda to impoverished the people of the region.
“As youth bodies, we can not allow such to happen because it is not in the best interest of the region.We can say without any iota of doubt that the mobilization of the Niger Delta leaders for a summit on the 10th of July, is a political ploy to play to the gallery and curry support from leaders of the region, while he will continue to stay and perpetuate his alleged fraudulent act to further deplete the region.
“We are calling on the presidency not to renew his stay as MD upon his tenure expiration in september. The IYC advocates that politicians who are eying to contest for governorship in their state should not be given such exalted positions in the NDDC, that moving forward, the commision should only employ the services of technocrats who have track records of leadership prowess for the development of the region as entrenched in the laws establishing the commission.”
