July 09, (THEWILL) – The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, set up an investigative panel to probe the revenues and expenditures of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the leadership of the Managing Director, Chief Samuel Ogbuku.
The 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 it has lost confidence in the Ogbuku-led management and has passed a vote of no confidence on Ogbuku.
Berefa pointed out that the current commission management lacked transparency and accountability in its dealings.
He called on President Tinubu to intervene and thoroughly investigate the commission’s income and expenditures, emphasising that the funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta region must be used properly to benefit the people.
“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,” he said.
The IYC alleged that Ogbuku was reportedly involved in multi-billion Naira corruption cases during Lauretta Onochie’s administration where documents of alleged fraudulent acts were provided, adding that he was able to retain the position of Managing Director because the NDDC which has allegedly served as a conduit pipe to individuals in high places.
“Recently, N1.7 trillion was released by International Oil Companies to the NDDC and the Board is using N50 billion to mobilise and induce Niger Delta traditional rulers, leaders, stakeholders and youth 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 mobilisation 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 commission 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,” he stated further.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
