NDDC Controversy: Itsekiri should tap on Akwa Ibom strategy-Groups

Two Itsekiri groups, Itsekiri Like Minds, ILM and the Youth Wing of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Itsekiri Chapter, have admonished Itsekiri leaders in the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Itsekiri Nation in general to tap from the Akwa Ibom strategy in agitating for an Itsekiri person to be nominated as Executive Director Projects, EDP in the proposed Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC Board instead of Adjogbe Ajenakevwe purportedly forwarded by Olorogun O’ Tega Emerhor.

In separate statements signed by ILM President, Comrade Emiko Olueh Ejoh, Secretary- Sunday Akra and Comrade Itse Omajugho as well as HOSTCOM Itsekiri Youth Wing Coordinators for Warri South, Comrade Stanley Amiwero, Warri North- Comrade Bawo Omajugho and Comrade Wesley Madamedon for Warri South-West, the two groups posited that when Bassey Dan Abia of Akwa Ibom State was sacked midway into his four-year tenure in December 2015 as MD of NDDC, his people felt unsettled because of the immediate appointment of Mrs. Ibim Semenitari from Rivers State as Acting MD of the Commission and sought legal redress.

The statement affirmed, “when speculations were rife in Akwa-Ibom State that there was plot by the Federal Government to confirm Semenitari as the substantive MD, four Akwa Ibom lawyers-Aniekan Akpan, Essien Obong, Akpadiaha Ebitu and Emmanuel Ukor, all branch Chairmen of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, The Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Semenitari to a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, citing relevant sections of the NDDC Act and sought an order of the Court to declare that Akwa Ibom is the legitimate state statutory entitled to produce an Acting or Substantive Managing Director, MD of NDDC to continue and complete the 4 years tenure allocated to the State by rotation arrangement as enshrined in section 3 and 12 (1) (d) of the NDDC Act”.

They expressed believe that the legal approach adopted by stakeholders in Akwa Ibom played a critical  role in making sure that one of their own was nominated as substantive MD in the proposed NDDC Board.

The HOSTCOM Itsekiri Youth Wing Coordinators on their part, opined that if President Buhari chooses not to re-appoint Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, Sunny Mene Ejegi, an Engineer of over 18 years experience in the Oil and Gas sector could be another option among the huge reservoir of Itsekiri professionals.

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