The New Initiative for Credible Leadership has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to commence the process of confirming Ibim Semenitari as the substantive Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
The group also urged Semenitari to focus on the work of repositioning the organisation for meeting the target for which it was set up.
It also expressed confidence in Semenitari’s ability to mainstream the NDDC’s mandate with the Change Agenda of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group, at press briefing addressed by its Executive Director, Rev Stephen Onwu, on Mobday in Abuja said that it is unfortunate that sponsored groups are already issuing press releases on behalf of those desperate to succeed Semenitari when she is still striving hard to reposition the commission.
Rev Onwu lamented that the distractions of the acting NDDC Managing Director would not have been possible had politicians in Rivers state, where she hails from, not taken local politics to the extreme when they accused her of things that never happened.
He said the continuing effort to distract the MD is counterproductive since the pressing issue is how to develop the region and not score settling.
The Executive Director said, “We found it unthinkable that youths that should be championing national integration are whipping up sectional sentiments simply because they think the position of NDDC MD should be zoned to their clan.
“Mrs Semenitari has the support of Nigerians to continue with the change she is implementing at the commission. One must commend her efforts to refocus the NDDC for developing the Niger Delta while also exposing the corruption that took place there before she took over.
“This clarity of purpose since her assumption of office is an impetus for Mr. President to confirm her for a substantive appointment. This will in no doubt has sent a clear signal to those who think they can hide under pseudo and clandestine platforms to tarnish her good image.
“Instead of bickering over non-issues, those who think they have something to offer should join hands with Mrs Ibim Semenitari and the NDDC to speed up the development of the Niger Delta region.” He urged.
Rev. Onwu asked the Federal Government to similarly disregard would be distractors since it is now clear that they are pursuing narrow interest and not that of the region.
