ONDO NDYM, EX-MILITANTS, OTHERS THREATEN TO SHUT DOWN NIGERIA’S ECONOMY IF PRESIDENT BUHARI FAILS TO ABIDE BY THE LAW IN APPOINTING THE NEXT NDDC MD FROM THE MANDATE AREA OF ONDO STATE

ONDO NDYM, EX-MILITANTS, OTHERS THREATEN TO SHUT DOWN NIGERIA’S ECONOMY IF PRESIDENT BUHARI FAILS TO ABIDE BY THE LAW IN APPOINTING THE NEXT NDDC MD FROM THE MANDATE AREA OF ONDO STATE

The Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), Ex-militants, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and other groups from Niger Delta areas of Ondo State, have made strong appeal to President Mohammadu Buhari to abide by the law which established NDDC Act of 2000 in appointment the next Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, threatened to shut down Nigeria’s economy if the Federal Government fails to abide by law.

The groups made this statement while addressing newsmen in Akure yesterday at a press briefing organized by the Niger Delta Youth Movement, NDYM in collaboration with other prominent groups from the Niger Delta areas of Ondo State.

The Chairman of NDYM in Ondo State, Comrade Akinfemi Omojuwa while addressing appreciated the leadership roles of President Buhari and appealed to him to give due respect for the law, stressing that Ondo State is long over due for the position of NDDC Managing Director.

He said, “this time around, Ondo State will strongly resist the continuous marginalisation of oil producing communities in Ondo State. And we shall be forceful in taking what belong to us in Ondo State. The position of NDDC Managing Director is the turn of Ondo State and we will fight to a stand still”. Akinfemi Omojuwa opined.

In the same vein, the spokesman of the Ex-militants in Ondo State, Comrade Niyi Majofodun, stated in a clear language that the economy of Nigeria will be threatened if the Federal Government and President Buhari refuses to respect the law by appointing an indigene of Ondo State from oil producing community as the next Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He said, “if the Federal Government and higher authorities cannot respect the law of the land, they have no moral right to challenge the lower authorities of disrespecting the law of the land. Therefore, we, the ex-militants from Ondo State have fully prepared to fight for our right. This time around, the NDDC Managing Director is the constitutional right of Ondo State and we will fight for it with all our strength, God helping us. We had been using gentlemen approach since inception but now, we shall be forceful and violent in our approach if the Federal Government does otherwise not minding the consequences”. Majofodun declared.

See below the press briefing help in Akure yesterday.

PRESS RELEASE

8th June, 2021.

BY COALITION OF NIGER DELTA GROUPS IN ONDO STATE.

Gentlemen of the press, we are here today to address a crucial issue affecting Niger Delta region of the country particularly Ondo State.

Coalition of Groups in the Niger Delta areas of Ondo State comprises Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), Ex-militants and Youths of different associations, have come together to make this press release, calling and appealing to President Mohammadu Buhari and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio to adhere strictly to the Act that formed Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in constituting the next Managing Director of the Commission which is the constitutional right of Ondo State by the virtue of the Act that established NDDC in 2000.

We want to urge President Buhari to exercise fairness by appointing Ondo indigene the new MD of NDDC. It should be noted that the Managing Director of the board of NDDC is the turn of Ondo State while constituting the substantive board.

Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act states, there shall be for the Commission, a Managing Director and two Executive Directors who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the member-state with the highest production quantum of oil and shall rotate amongst member-states in order of production.

This clear and unambiguous provision of the NDDC Act means that every member-state shall produce the Managing Director of the Commission in a rotational manner, following a sequential order that uses the quantum of oil production starting with the state with the highest production and you will agree with us that Ondo State is the fifth largest producers of oil after Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa State had produced the NDDC Managing Director. Therefore, we want to strongly appeal to Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio to use his good office to inform President Buhari to adhere strictly to the Act and appoint the next NDDC Managing Director from Ondo State, being the fifth highest oil producing state as stipulated in the NDDC Act.

We want to express our pain over the continuous marginalisation of the oil communities in Ondo State in the composition of the NDDC’s board as executive lawlessness and injustice that must be addressed by President Muhammadu Buhari and his Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio before it causes a serious mayhem in the region.

Records have shown that Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively have repeatedly produced the NDDC Managing Director in succession, thereby giving room for the marginalization of Ondo State.

Records have revealed that Delta State had occupied the position of MD four times and the positions of the Executive Director of Finance with that of Executive Director of Project three times.

Akwa Ibom State had occupied the position of Managing Director (MD) three times, and still had the position of the Executive Director of Finance with that of Executive Director of Project Four times.

Rivers State had occupied the position of the Managing Director (MD) three times and had the positions of the Executive Director of Finance with that of Executive Director of Project four times.

Bayelsa State had occupied the position of the Managing Director (MD) of NDDC four times and the positions of the Executive Director Finance and that of Executive Director Project five times.

Therefore, the continuous marginalisation of Ondo State in constituting the Managing Director, Director of Finance & Administration and that of Director of Project is alarming and clear manifestation of injustice and executive lawlessness that must be addressed by President Muhammadu Buhari and his Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio before it causes a serious problem in the oil-rich region.

At this juncture, we are making a special appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to exercise fairness and sincerity by considering an Ondo State indigene from the oil communities in his plan for fresh nominations into the Management Board of the NDDC – the Managing Director.

Mr President, we appeal to you to help us to stop this corruption, impunity and injustice against Ondo State for the sake of fairness, justice and equity.

Finally, outside this press release, our position and special appeal shall communicated to President Buhari in an official letter which will be addressed to his office in Abuja and also copied office of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Minister of State Niger Delta Affairs, Senate President,Speaker House of Representatives,Chairman Senate Committee on Niger Delta and Chairman house Committee on NDDC.

In the same vein, letter of protection on peaceful protest which will be staged in Abuja will be submitted to the office of the National Security Adviser to the President, Inspector General of Police, DSS and other relevant security apparatus.

Long live NDYM
Long live NDDC
Long live Ondo State
Long live Nigeria

Signed:

Comrade Akinfemi Omojuwa NDYM Chairman
Ondo State Chapter

Comrade Omoniyi Felix Majofodun,Spokesman for Ondo State Ex-militants.

Comrade Samson Ewaojane
Federation of Ugbo Youth Chairman

Comrade Shina Nejo
Mahin,Aheri & Etikan Youth Chairman

Comrade Ashi Duwoboebi
IJAW YOUTH COUNCIL (IYC) Chairman

Comrade Olasokan Peter Befo
APOI PROGRESS YOUTH COUNCIL Chairman