IYC urges Tinubu to probe NDDC

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency set up a probe panel to open the income and expenditure book of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under its Managing Director Samuel Ogbuku to public scrutiny.

IYC expressed serious concerns over the state of affairs in the Niger Delta region under its current leadership, Ogbuku.

Speaking through its spokesman, Comrade Bedford Berefa, the IYC voiced a strong vote of no confidence on Ogbuku.

Berefa pointed out various issues facing the region and criticised the leadership of NDDC for its lack of transparency and accountability in its dealings.

He called on President Tinubu to intervene and thoroughly investigate the commission’s income and expenditures, emphasizing that the funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta must be used properly to benefit the people.

The IYC’s stance highlights the growing frustration and restiveness among the youths in the region, demanding accountability and effective management of resources to improve living conditions and foster regional development in the oil-rich region.

The IYC’s call for action is a clear message to the government that the people of the Niger Delta will no longer tolerate mismanagement and inefficiency, hoping that with President Tinubu’s intervention, there will be a positive change in the NDDC’s operations and a better future for the region.

The statement explained further that, Ogbuku has been alleged of involved in the N210 billion corruption cases during Lauretta Onochie administration where documents of fraudulent acts were provided, yet Ogbuku allegedly bribed his way through and retained the position of Managing Director because the NDDC which has served as a conduit pipe to illegally transfer the wealth of the region to powerful individuals in the polity.

Recently N1.7 trillion was released from International Oil Companies to the NDDC because of the indictment of the Ogbuku government, he allegedly and secretly released the sum of N50 billion out of the N1.7 trillion for the executive directors for them to give way for a new appointment for the board but Ogbuku and his members presently are using the said N50 billion to mobilize Niger Delta traditional Rulers, leaders, stakeholders, and youths leaders to support for him to continue using the Niger Delta funds for bribery top leaders in the corridors of power.

“As youth bodies, we can not allow such to happen because it is not in the best interest of the region.

“We can say without any iota of doubt that the mobilization of the Niger Delta leaders for a summit on the 10th of July, is a political ploy to play to the gallery and curry support from leaders of the region, while he will continue to stay and perpetuate his alleged fraudulent act to further deplete the region.

“We are calling on the presidency not to renew his stay as MD upon his tenure expiration in September. The IYC advocates that politicians who are eying to contest for governorship in their state should not be given such exalted positions in the NDDC, that moving forward, the commission should only employ the services of technocrats who have track records of leadership prowess for the development of the region as entrenched in the laws establishing the commission,” the statement read in part.