NDDC: South-South Leaders Castigate Senator Kalu

…Urge Buhari to replace Onochie and Chief Ogbuku

Leaders of the South-South Front (SSF), have castigated the senator representing Abia North senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu over comments ascribed to him in which he was quoted attacking the oil producing areas of the country.

The leaders particularly urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take steps to foil criticisms by replacing Ms. Lauretta Onochie and Chief Samuel Ogbuku with Itsekiri indigenes.

The SSF while denouncing Kalu, said that he was the greatest enemy of the oil producing areas and the most pronounced foe of President Muhammadu Buhari.

They SSF leaders also described Kalu’s comments on the appointment of the Chairman and Managing Director for the Niger Delta Commission (NDDC) as “classic example of conceit and proposal of anarchy”.

In a statement made available to Forefront News in Abuja, the Chairman of the SSF, Chief John Harry noted that the NDDC Act is sound on the establishment of a governing body, stressing that to abandon it is therefore unthinkable.

Harry further said that it would be a disaster to the oil producing areas if President Buhari is diverted by Kalu and his co-travellers from the provisions of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act 2000.

According to the SSF; “The chairman must be an indigene of oil producing area and the office rotated amongst the member states of the Commission in the following alphabetical order. (a) Abia State; (b) Akwa-Ibom State; (c) Bayelsa State; (d) Cross-River State; (e) Delta State; (f) Edo State; (g) Imo State; (h) Ondo State; and (i) Rivers State.

“Also, the Managing Director, and two Executive Directors must also be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the member states of the Commission with the highest production quantum of oil and rotated amongst member states in the order of production,” the SSF chairman said.

The SSF leaders however commended Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Senators Ajayi Boroffice, Ayo Akinuelure and Nicholas Tofowomo for rejecting the Ondo State nominee, Mr. Charles Ogunmola .

The leaders said that the consider the decision of the governor and the good people of Ondo State splendid, adding that it is the only way to bring political cabals to their senses.

The SSF accordingly, urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to tread the disastrous path charted by the former governor of Abia State, Senator Kalu but to explore paths to better and perhaps to cure fundamental problems in the oil rich region.

Itsekiri Leaders of Thought and Omadino Unity Forum representatives, Chief Edward Ekpoko, Engineer Victor Wood and Mr. Edward Omagbemi are seeking an order quashing the nomination of Onochie and Ogbuku as NDDC Chairman and Managing Director.

They are also seeking a declaration that the nomination of Onochie, who hails from a non-oil producing area in Delta State as Chairman of NDDC and Chief Samuel Ogbuku, who hails from Bayelsa State as Managing Director of NDDC by President Buhari as unlawful for being contrary to the intent and purpose of NDDC Act.

The SSF specifically said that it was the turn of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality of Delta State to produce the Chairman and Managing Director of the NDDC.