ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, YENAGOA
An advocacy group, the Niger Delta for Accountability and National Progress (NDANP), has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately inaugurate the board of Niger Development Commission (NDDC) vetted by the security agencies and confirmed by the National Assembly two years ago.
The group in a statement on Wednesday said the advice became necessary in order to avert crisis in the oil-rich region.
The group urged President Buhari for the sake of fairness and justice complete the process he started two years ago by inaugurating the board of directors he personally nominated and submitted to the National Assembly for confirmation.
It pointed out that there was no need constituting a new board when the one already screened and confirmed by the Senate is made up of capable professionals of impeccable characters.
It noted that the board confirmed two years ago remained the best option as could be attested to by the wide acceptance it got from the Niger Delta and applause for the Presidency for doing the right thing.
The group, which said there were no voices then opposing the President’s action, claimed that the current tension and situation in the region was a result of the avoidable and dangerous politics of certain political actors.
It said the NDDC came into being from the collective sacrifices of the Niger Delta people devoid of the politics of party affiliation, noting that the prevailing poverty in the region that provides about 90 per cent of the nation’s resources was uncalled for.
The NDANP said: “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to stick to his character of disciplinary consistency and action by inaugurating the board confirmed two years ago.
“By so doing, he will be directly responsible for delivering a capable and efficient board and the end sum will be the values of a well run NDDC for the Niger Delta people, peace and consolidation of national progress.”
The group wondered why the destiny of the Niger Delta region would be placed in the whims and caprices of politicians who are neither here nor there, saying those same politicians were at different times members of other political parties and they contributed zilch to President Buhari’s emergence and relevance.
It, therefore, advised the President to initiate a process of good faith and confidence with the Niger Delta people for their betterment and the reckons of posterity.
The group further said: “We believe that the region and the country stand to benefit from the inauguration of the already confirmed board. Who’s afraid of the board nominated by President Buhari and confirmed by the Senate two years ago?
“We have been here before, we’re all too familiar with the dynamics of the Niger Delta, we’re having a situation with the tell tale signs where the current agitation and impulse will deteriorate when not nipped in the bud.”