The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) deviated from its purpose and objectives for which it was established after Godwin Omene, the pioneer Managing Director left.
After the exit of Omene NDDC has been converted to a patronage establishment to enrich the political class, expand their influence and do selective projects for the benefits of the politicians.
The question is why should we continue to allow this deray of the NDDC mandate? The worst period of NNDC is when immediate past President Mohammadu Buhari transferred the commission from Office of Secretary to the Federal Government to office of the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, being headed then by super self glorified uncommon politician, Godswill Akpabio, now Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
NDDC has not known peace. Cases of unrestrained looting has been the case and there seems no end to it. If NDDC was weak before, under Buhari with collaboration of Akpabio, the commission collapsed entirely.
A board led by Bernard Okumagba as Managing Director was appointed by Buhari himself and after being screened and cleared by the then Senate, Buhari reneged on inaugurating the board which didn’t operate one day.
No wrong doing against them, but the President abandoned the nomination, screening and approval without any feeling he owed Nigerians explanations. He gave Akpabio room to use his protege as Sole Administrator, alien to the law setting up the commission, deepening the sleaze that has ruined NDDC until Buhari left office 29th May 2023.
One would have thought that with Tinubu as President and Commander-In-Chief, the situation would improve but that is far from the reality till this moment. Tinubu has dissolved the NDDC board and like Buhari retained the Managing Director of the sacked board, Samuel Ogbuku, as Sole Administrator.
Like Buhari, Tinubu doesn’t care if he owes Nigerians explanation. If Ogbuku is retained why dissolved the entire NDDC board. If the board members sack was for any wrongdoing, why still sack Bernard Okumagba who was brought in to join the board just two weeks before Tinubu took over?
Tinubu has started on a wrong footing as far as NDDC and other sensitive national issues are concerned. Tinubu is copying Buhari to illegally use one man to run NDDC. H is following the failed footsteps of Buhari. All the probes and forensic probe by Buhari were sheer drama of deceptions, all ended in dustbins.
Today no person is asking question about the controversial forensic probe of NDDC that made the board in which Bernard Okumagba was appointed Managing Director not sit for one day after being screened and cleared by the Senate.
With Akpabio, the uncommon confusion monger who supervised these oddities in NDDC now elevated to Senate President, number 3 citizen of Nigeria, how will Nigerians ever know the truth or get the change desired to make NDDC fulfill its mandate?
Since NDDC is not serving the purpose for which it was established, of what relevance it is now, beyond serving as conduit to steal the commonwealth? Tinubu has allowed self to be used to allow Samuel Ogbuku run one man show in NDDC. The Act establishing NDDC is very clear but politicians won’t allow NDDC operate and achieve its set purpose and objectives.
Tinubu promised Nigerians he will govern well but his decision to allow Samuel Ogbuku to remain head in NDDC while sacking others in the board Ogbuku led is not well intended. NDDC is not established to enrich politicians but an agency for the development of the entire South South and Niger-Delta.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes!