Protesters storm NDDC, allege Ekere’s attempt to handpick successor, board’s tenure elongation

…Niger Delta leaders task Buhari on Commission’s ACT

Patrick Okohue, Lagos

Massive protest Friday rocked the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over the tenure of the present management board of the interventionist agency and the decision of the outgoing Managing Director, Mr. Nsima Ekere to handpick his successor. Protesters took to the streets with placards, dancing and singing solidarity songs. They are protesting the transfer of power to the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Mene Derek by Nsima Udo Ekere, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State as the Managing Director and Chief Executive officer. The protest was organized by a coalition of groups, including Niger Delta Front, South-South Youths and other organisations. They expressed disappointment that Ekere and his backers only seem to be interested in perpetuating themselves in power rather than the development of the region, saying that “The action is capable of jeopardising development of the region”. Leader of the Niger Delta Front, Chief John Harry, who addressed journalists in Port Harcourt, said the leaders and youths decided on the protest to stop the handing over, plan to extend the tenure of the current board and abuse of office. He called on the National Assembly to wield the big stick to stop the crisis in the commission by dissolving the NDDC board. He also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good office and leadership position to maintain peace in the region by urgently appointing a sole administrator to oversee the management of the commission. “The handing over is unacceptable. It is illegal. Cross River and Akwa Ibom states have completed their four years term each as Chairman and Managing Director of the commission,” Chief Harry said. He pointed out that the present board was officially appointed on the 4th of November, 2016 to complete the remainder of term of the previous board in line with the provisions of the NDDC Act. Adding that, the present NDDC board tenure of Nsima Ekere, Ndoma Egba and others elapsed on October 31, 2018 in line with the terms of their appointment and the law establishing NDDC, which clearly stated that they were to complete their respective state’s tenures. “Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the board, it shall be filled by the appointment of a successor to hold office for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor. “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 states of the commission with the highest production quantum oil and shall rotate amongst member states in order of production “The NDDC Act 2000 provides for the rotation of the commission’s leadership amongst the nine member states. The positions of Managing Director, Executive Director (Projects) and Executive Director (Finance) also follow the rotational policy under Part 4, Section 12 of the NDDC ACT,” he said. He also urged President Buhari to implement the NDDC ACT.