Rivers State Governor,\u00a0 Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has condemned the posture of
\nsome ethnic groups in the Niger Delta Region that behave as if they own
\nthe Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC).<\/p>\n
Governor Wike said the commission belongs to all States in the region
\nand no one particular ethnic group can assert itself as the dominant
\nowner of the commission as has been observed of recent.<\/p>\n
The governor made the declaration when he played host to the Interim
\nManagement Committee of NDDC on courtesy visit to Government House, Port
\nHarcourt on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike said members of those groups always kick against the
\nappointment of people to head the commission because they feel such
\npersons are not from core Niger Delta States, which he stated must stop.<\/p>\n
“Anybody can be appointed in Niger Delta. There are people who believe
\nthat if they appoint somebody from Edo or Cross River States for
\nexample, they say no. That those people are not the core Niger Delta
\nstates. We must have to stop that.”<\/p>\n
The governor also said such people also leave their states and come to
\nRivers state to block the gates of the commission, cause crisis and
\nfrustrate economic activities.<\/p>\n
“NDDC does not belong to any ethnic group in the Niger Delta region. It
\ndoes not belong to anybody. There are people who have seen themselves
\nthat they are the owners of NDDC. They leave their state and come to
\nNDDC to block NDDC gate .We are peaceful people, but nobody should push
\nus to the point where we can tell you enough is enough.”<\/p>\n
Governor Wike further continued: “The next time they try it again to
\ncause crisis in our state, I’ll mobilise our people against them. I am
\nnot saying if you have grievance with NDDC you shouldn’t seek how to
\nsettle it. But don’t use it to cause problem for us, to begin to make
\neconomic activities not to move on.”<\/p>\n
The governor challenged the new interim leadership to determined to make
\na difference, change the current narrative of the commission\u00a0 serving
\noutsiders interest and abandoning it’s core mandate of developing the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike said people are abusing the entire region because the
\ncommission has\u00a0 wasted trillions of Dollars without lifting the masses
\nof the region out of poverty or commensurate developmental projects on
\nground to show for the funds received .<\/p>\n
“The problem with us is that you allow people outside to control you.
\nYou want to have godfathers from East, West and North. NDDC is created
\nfor Niger Delta. Use the money for the people and region.<\/p>\n
“They are abusing us that Niger Delta is a curse. Trillions of dollars
\nhave been spent, and we cannot say this is what we have spent the money
\non.<\/p>\n
“Those Abuja portfolio contractors are part of the people controlling
\nyou. They tell you what to do and you do it for fear that they will
\nremove you. But eventually,\u00a0 you will be removed. So,\u00a0 why not work for
\nthe people. When you’re removed,\u00a0 you’ll know you did your best for the
\nregion.”<\/p>\n
Governor Wike also charged the interim management to always work with
\nall the state governors in the region on equal footing, and without
\npolitics so that together,\u00a0 they can achieve desired development.<\/p>\n
“Go and visit every governor because they are members of the governing
\ncouncil of NDDC and they are the leaders of the states. You don’t need
\nto entangle yourself with unnecessary bickering, politicking . Show a
\ndifference.”<\/p>\n
The governor cautioned the\u00a0 NDDC management to obey subsisting court
\norder that makes mandatory for the commission to seek the consent of the
\nstate government before embarking on any project, particularly in Rivers
\nState. He warned that if the commission defies the state government,
\nthen, the commission will be dragged to court for contempt.<\/p>\n
“I will not hesitate to tell the Attorney General to file contempt
\nagainst officials of NDDC and NDDC\u00a0 itself. We will not hesitate.
\nBecause we have come to the time that Nigerians must understand we must
\nfollow\u00a0 rules. The only way you can talk about good governance is when
\nyou obey the rule of law. There cannot be good governance when there is
\nnothing to show you obey the law. Good governance is predicated on the
\nrule of law.”<\/p>\n
He urged them to conceptualise regional project for execution to end the
\npiecemeal partner they had adopted, which has not moved the region
\nforward in terms of infrastructural development.<\/p>\n
“I’ve always said to people, when you have the opportunity to make
\ncontribution to the development of your fathers land, you must see it as
\nblessing God has given you. You must not see it as a way to set back
\nyour region.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike also urged NDDC to send their partnership support towards
\nthe reconstruction of the ongoing dualisation of\u00a0 Eastern By Pass Road
\nwhere the NDDC permanent headquarters is located.<\/p>\n
He told them to put their temporary office along Aba Road in good
\ncondition before moving out to their permanent headquarters office.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the Interim Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the
\nNDDC, Mr Effiong\u00a0 Akwa said the visit was first to be undertaken by his
\nteam to any governor in the region.<\/p>\n
Akwa informed the governor that with the newly built permanent NDDC head
\noffice now completed, they are ready to commission it on 25th February,
\n2021.<\/p>\n
The Interim Administrator on behalf of the commission later presented
\nsix waste disposal trucks to the Rivers State Government to improve the
\nsanitary conditions in the state.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike noted that this is the first time in his administration
\nthat the commission was offering support to the Rivers State Government.<\/p>\n
He commended them for demonstrating good corporate social responsibility
\nin encouraging the state government in its drive to restore Port
\nHarcourt to its Garden City status.<\/p>\n
Rivers State Governor,\u00a0 Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has condemned the posture of some ethnic groups in the Niger Delta Region that behave as if they own the Niger Delta Development Commission,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":78128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n