Niger Delta ex-agitators have applauded President Bola Tinubu on his decision to return the supervision of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Presidency.
In a statement, the National Secretary of the First Phase Ex-agitators, Mr. Nature Dumale, said it was heart-warming to hear the NDDC would now report directly to the President like the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
He stressed that Niger Delta has been suffering over the years because of mismanagement as well as the activities of greedy individuals who turned the Commission into a cash cow.
According to him, the President’s decision shows his good intentions for the Niger Delta region.
He said, “We want to use this opportunity to appreciate Mr. President for the wisdom in returning the NDDC to the Presidency.
“We believe that this will speed up the development of the region, and stem the culture of turning the Commission into a cash cow.
“For us, it is a sign that the President has good intentions for the Niger Delta region for summoning the political will to move the interventionist agency back to the Presidency. This means that he wants proper supervision of the NDDC.
“As ex-agitators, we can boldly say that the Niger Delta has been suffering because of mismanagement. This move will engender accountability, transparency and the much-touted development of the Niger Delta, would become a reality.
“This is one step Mr. President has taken to give us hope as leaders in the region. We believe that the NDDC, under the supervision of the Presidency, would facilitate meaningful development.
“The only time we experienced some development was when NDDC was under the direct supervision of the Presidency. As soon as it was moved to the Ministry of Niger Delta, it became a cash cow for the Niger Delta Cartel, whose only agenda is to keep the Niger Delta underdeveloped.”
Similarly, Dumale said they discovered that apart from the NDDC and the PAP, there was a Niger Delta Recovery Plan, which mandated the ministries of petroleum, environment, and Niger Delta affairs to work in synergy in articulating the development of the region.
“We live in an environment where a lot is taken away on a daily basis by the Federal Government, yet there is little to show for it. The condition of Ogoni-Onne-Eleme Road, which is part of the East-West road, comes to mind. The road has remained a death trap making it impossible for free movement of goods.
“We are standing behind President Tinubu and we await, with great enthusiasm and renewed vigor, the speedy development of our homeland.”
Meanwhile, he asserted that the ex-agitators were empowered with education and strategies to hold their leaders accountable, urging the President to compel the NDDC to make its forensic audit report public.
“We have been empowered and we won’t engage anybody with arms. We have been trained to communicate positively and to make our case known even to the United Nations,” he added.
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