Itsekiris restate support for Buhari, Osinbajo, wants Ministerial, NDDC posts

By Samuel Badejo
The Itsekiri people of Delta State have expressed renewed confidence in the ability of President Mohammadu Buhari to deploy his second term to addressing Nigeria's fundamental problems.

In a statement made available to Irohinoodua, the Itsekiri National Youths Council, (INYC) said the victory of President Buhari and his Vice President during the February 23 poll was a product of hardwork reflecting the confidence Nigerians have in the two leaders.

The INYC President Agbateyinmiro Weyinmi and Secretary General, .... signed the statement issued in Warri at the weekend.


The INYC said the Itsekiri support for the duo during the last Presidential poll was "total and overwhelming."

"Out of the 221,000 votes in Delta, we the Itsekiri gave over 75,000 votes representing 35 percent of the total votes and also representing 95 percent of the total number of Itsekiri votes in Delta State. Our support was total. We have also transformed this support to practical actions on the field ensuring that violent activities and economic sabotage activities in Delta state becomes a thing of the past..We achieved this through mass education of our youths because of the confidence we have in Buhari and Osinbajo."

The INYC urged the President to resiprocate the gesture by appointing an Itsekiri person as a Federal Minister while ensuring the the post of the Managing Director of Niger-Delta Development.Commission, (NDDC) is reserved for an Itsekiri person


The group stated "We appeal to President Buhari to appoint people of Itsekiri origin into strategic positions to compensate for the huge votes the All Progressive Congress, (APC) recorded during the February 23 Presidential poll inspite of the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the state.

It said that the decision of the Itsekiri to vote massively for the APC was informed by the strong conviction that Buhari would meet the aspirations of the nationality group who are constantly marginalised in Delta State.

The INYC represents Itsekiri youths from indigenous people Delta State and Edo States

"During the last election, Itsekiri youths gave everything to President Buhari because we trust his economic and social policies. We are anxious to how he wants to show his appreciation to Itsekiri people that have always been at the receiving end of Delta and Niger- Delta politics."

He said even though Itsekiri are the second largest producer of Oil and gas in Nigeria, successive goverments have continued to push the ethnic group to the backbench.

The group however said President Buhari had shown signs of high responsibility and commitment to allay the fears of Itsekiri and ethnic minorities across the country citing his refusal to sign the Maritime University Bill which was skewed against history and subsisting judgement of Courts of Competent jurisdiction.

The youths praised the President for refusing to sign the Maritime University Bill into law adding the proposed law does was not a product of consultation and constructive engagement with all stakeholders.

The group commended President Buhari for embarking on milestone projects in Delta State during his first term the Warri Port Channel, Escravos Break Waters, Railway from Itakpe to Aladja and complete the aged-longed and ongoing East West Road project, the Omadino to Escravos road project to link the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, the Koko, Ogheye to Lagos Road project and revival of the Burutu, Koko and Sapele sea ports to boost economic activities in Delta State , dredging of the Benin River amongst other projects.

The group said as the tenure of the 4th Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) expired on the 25th of January, 2019 and a transition management committee consisting of an Acting Managing Director and two Acting Executive Directors was set up to manage the affairs of the Commission until a substantive board is appointed, there is the need to appoint a honest, transparent and loyal Itsekiri person as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC)

The group said from the year 2001 to January 2019, the substantive Managing Directorship of the NDDC has rotated amongst the four Niger Delta states with the highest quantum of oil production as shown in the table below:
NDDC Governing Board MD/CEO’s From Inception
S/N Name of Appointees Period Position Board State

1 Engr. Godwin Omene
Hon. Emmanuel Agwariavwodo
Mr. Timi Alaibe 2001 – 2003
2003 – 2005
2005 – 2005 Substantive MD/CEO
Completed Omene’s Tenure
2005 Transition
1st Governing Board
Delta State

2
Mr. Timi Alaibe
Mr. P.Z. Aginghan 2006 – 2009
2009 – 2009 Substantive MD/CEO
2009 Transition 2nd Governing Board Bayelsa State

3 Mr. Chibuzor Uguoha
Mrs. Osato Arenyeka-Iyasere
Dr. Christian Oboh
Dr. (Mrs) Christy Atako 2009 – 2011
2011 – 2011
2011 – 2013
2013 – 2013 Substantive MD/CEO
2011 Transition – Ag MD
Substantive MD/CEO
2013 Transition – Ag MD
3rd Governing Board

Rivers State

4 Dr. Dan Abia
Mrs. Ibim Semeitari
HE, Dr. Nsima Ekere 2013 – 2015
2015 – 2016
2016 – 2019 Substantive MD/CEO
2016 Transition – Ag.MD
Substantive MD/CEO

4th Governing Board
Akwa-Ibom State
5 Prof Nelson Brambaifa 2019 – Date 2019 Transition – Ag.MD Nil Bayelsa State

It noted that the four Niger Delta states with the highest quantum of oil and gas production, namely Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states have all produced substantive Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the NDDC for the full term of four years each and as required by section 3 of the NDDC Act from the year 2001 to 2019.

The groups demanded that in line with well-established rotational arrangement under the NDDC Act which has promoted peace and unity, and a sense of belonging among member states of the NDDC, the next substantive Managing Director of the NDDC should be appointed from Itsekiri which currently is the highest oil and gas producing territory in Delta State.

It noted that by the provisions of the NDDC Act, particularly section 4, the Chairmanship of the NDDC is to rotate among 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.

It said the Chairmen of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Governing Boards of the NDDC were appointed from Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa and Cross Rivers States respectively.

The group said "the next Chairman of the NDDC is also legally expected to come from Delta State in compliance with section 4 of the Act.
It is our hope that Mr. President would as soon as possible appoint a substantive Governing Board of the NDDC in strict compliance with the enabling law establishing the commission in the interest of fairness and sustenance peace in the Niger Delta region"

Hmm,every tribes are supporting the present regime so that they won't be left behind politically, that's normal thing.

But what should we call those fighting them and still expecting something from them.

olajizz01:
Hmm,every tribes are supporting the present regime so that they will not left behind politically, that's normal thing.

But what should we call those fighting them and still expecting something from them.

Call them yeeeboooos

blackpanda:

Call them yeeeboooos

Hahahaha....................