Abubakar Yunus Abuja
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has accused the Senate of deliberate attempt to frustrate the geniune intentions of President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Recall that Buhari had while ordering the removal of the former interim administrator of the NDDC, Effiong Akwa Okon, instructed that the board should be inaugurated without delay.
According to statement made available to The Explainer on Tuesday, the group expressed dismay over the continuous delay by the Senate, days after it reconvened at the end of its recess, to act on the interventionist agency’s matter.
The statement, which was signed by the group’s Abuja/Northern Nigeria Chapter Chairman, Comrade Adams Marbo, noted that it was on the strength of the President’s position that the Minster of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umanah Okon Umanah, during his recent visit to the NDDC headquarters, informed journalists that the names of the reconstituted board had already been sent to the Senate.
It insisted that the action of the Senate is a disrespect to President Buhari and an affront to his authority having transmitted the nominees to the Senate.
IYC prayed that the delay by the Senate should not be connected to speculations in the media that the present management of the NDDC and some big contractors are lobbying the Senate to delay the inauguration to enable some few selfish individuals to continue to share the commonwealth of the people of the region among themselves.
While urging Buhari to order an investigation into the allegation, the statement pleaded with the Minster of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana, to maintain his integrity which he has been known for over the years by resisting the pressure to be dragged into the messy and greedy arrangement targeted at delaying the inauguration of the Board.
The group expressed confidence in the leadership of the Senate led by Senator Ahmed Lawal to do the needful for the betterment of the larger society.
It stated that the inauguration of the NDDC board will contribute immensely to sustaining the peace already being enjoyed in the Niger Delta region.
