By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
A prominent traditional ruler in the Niger Delta region and the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, is completely unfazed by the recent appointment of the members of new board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by the federal government.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday approved the appointment of a new board and management team of the NDDC with Mr. Chiedu Ebie from Delta state as the substantive Chairman while Dr. Samuel Ogbuku from Bayelsa will serve as the Managing Director/CEO.
Others in the board and management are Boma Iyaye- Executive Director (Finance and Admin)-Rivers; Victor Antai- Executive Director (Projects)- Akwa-Ibom; Ifedayo Abegunde- Executive Director (Corporate Services)- Ondo;
Sen. Dimaro Denyanbofa- State Representative- Bayelsa and Abasi Ndikan Nkono- State Representative- Akwa Ibom.
Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya-State Representative- Delta, Chief Tony Okocha-State Representative- Rivers, Hon. Patrick Aisowieren-State Representative- Edo, Kyrian Uchegbu-State Representative- Imo, Victor Kolade Akinjo- State Representative- Ondo, Chief Dimgba Eruba- State Representative- Abia, Asu Oku Okang- State Representative- Cross River, Hon. Nick Wende- Zonal Representative- North Central, Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak- Zonal Representative- North East and
Sen. Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir- Zonal Representative- North West, completed the list of those appointed by Tinubu.
But King Dakolo, the Ibedaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom in Bayelsa will not be carried away by the arrays of the personality appointed into the NDDC board because state institutions will not allow the dividends of the resources of the region to benefit the ordinary people of the Niger Delta region.
King Dakolo who spoke on Arise News television current affairs programme The Morning Show monitored in Abuja on Wednesday, insists that the Nigerian state is responsible for the underdevelopment of Niger Delta region.
According to him, beyond the euphoria of the appointments of the board and management of NDDC, the region is yet to feel the positive impacts of the reasons to set up the Commission as successive boards and management of NDDC have failed to deliver in the core mandates of the Commission.
King Dakolo who is a retired soldier and a prolific scholar, alleged that the wealth of the Niger Delta region is being enjoyed in other regions while the people of the region are wallowing in poverty and deprivation.
“The wealth of the region can be seen in all the regions of Nigeria but in Niger Delta. Those who are entrusted with the power to change the narrative have always gone there to feather their own nests”, the King said.
He cited the corruption in NDDC to include the infamous “Honourable Minister off your mic” incident at National Assembly (NASS) when the now Senate President, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and wanted to reveal certain things in the probe into the affair of NDDC captured under the so-called “Forensic Audit of the NDDC” which did not see the light of the day. READ ALSO:
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Said he: “It is in the public domain that past leadership of NDDC have failed to improve the welfare of the people of the Niger Delta region despite of huge amount of money the Nigerian government has pumped into NDDC”.
“For example, the much-talked about
Forensic Audit of NDDC did not achieve the purpose as the findings have not been made public.
Also, the East-West road has not been delivered. In fact, since I was born and now I am getting old, the East-West road has remained uncompleted”.
King Dakolo said although he knows some of the persons appointed by Tinubu, the state institutions like the Police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others should beam their searchlights on the leadership of NDDC to ensurethat they do not commit infractions.
He also exonerated the people of Niger Delta region from blame for the none performance of the Commission as it is not the duty of the people to physically fight the government appointees who embezzled the funds given to theCommission to develop the region.
