By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Abuja, May 1, 2020
Two groups – the Transparency Monitors and the Buhari Media Vanguard (BMV) – have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for extending the tenure of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The groups gave the commendation on Friday in Abuja in a statement jointly signed by their leaders from various states.
The leaders included Mr Tonye Franklin (Rivers), Mrs Sharon Donald (Abia),
ThankGod Peters (Delta) and Pastor Akinwumi Oladipo (Osun state).
Buhari had, on Thursday extended the tenure of the Prof. Keme Pondei-led IMC, from May 1 to Dec. 31.
The extension, in a statement by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, is to cover the period of the forensic audit on the NDDC, earlier approved by the Federal Executive Council, under the chairmanship of the President.
The Transparency Monitors, an Online Media Platform in Nigeria, described the tenure extension as ‘a demonstration of the transparent nature of Buhari’.
“This is a demonstration of the good leadership of Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta, and the transparent nature of President Mohammadu Buhari.
“We are following situations from the excellent role the Nigerian President is providing to sanitise and rebuild confidence in the affairs of the commission,” the group said.
The group, while applauding President Buhari’s good gesture, said that the extension had raised the hope of southerners in the Buhari administration.
It added that the action of the President had also allowed clarifications into “senseless sponsored media attacks” on the NDDC’s leadership, the person of Akpabio, and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
The group assured the management of the commission, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Mr President of total loyalty and support that would ensure the development of the Niger Delta region.
Transparency Monitors particularly described the choice of Akpabio as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs by Buhari as ‘the best in the nterest of all the oil producing states’, and ‘an assurance of the rebuilding of stronger NDDC as against the past leadership’.
“We adore your unflinching crusade on the fight against corruption which has won Nigeria great respect both locally and internationally.
“This is against what we have had in the past sixteen years when corruption was instituted as a way of life in the polity.
“We thank you particularly over the railway projects which your administration is embarking on, across the country,” the group said.
The Buhari Media Vanguard, on it’s part, urged people of the Niger Delta region to support Buhari and Akpabio in the efforts to right the wrongs suffered for a long.
“President Buhari and Akpabio have the interest of all the oil producing states at hearts and will ensure that qualified people are put in positions to rebuild a stronger commission as against the poor leadership of the past,” the group said.
The groups commended the President and the Minister for their hard work and achievements in the oil producing region in the last four years.
They expressed optimism that Nigeria would witness more balanced appointments from President Buhari in his second term, adding that such was the pathway to national greatness.
