MOSIEND berates calls for NDDC boss, Ogbuku’s sack

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ignore calls for the sack of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) boss.

The group said that it was regrettable that a faceless group, Niger Delta Elders for Good Governance and Accountability was behind the unpatriotic and baseless call to sack in Dr Samuel Ogbuku.

MOSIEND dismissed the purportedly signed by one Chief Donald Ewere, who is unknown among Nigerr Delta stakeholders as baseless falsehood and fabrication.

MOSIEND wondered why any right-thinking person would come up with such magnitude of falsehood – to the extent of alleging that there is a dispute over the NDDC amongst Tinubu’s loyalists.

MOSIEND’s reaction is contained in a statement signed by its National President, Kennedy Tonjo-West and made available to the newsmen in Yenagoa on Sunday.

The group said it is shameful that such a childish and senseless move could come from a group claiming to be made up of elders, as whatever they said is a figment of their own imaginations and not the yearning of the Niger Delta people.

According to Tonjo-West: “It is sad that this is coming at a time when the region is very peaceful and all the stakeholders fully supporting Dr Samuel Ogbuku and calling for his revalidation as Substantive Managing Director of NDDC.

“This is a wicked and devilish craft – trying to make the public look as if these leaders are fighting. Ogbuku is very committed to bringing the vision of President Bola Tinubu concerning the region to fruition and has gained the confidence of the people.

“This is someone who has listening ears and consults widely before he does anything, and for the first time, Niger Delta people are gathering behind Ogbuku to continue irrespective of tribe.

“How can one believe this falsehood that the Senate President who knows the yearnings of the people of the region is working against the current NDDC under Ogbuku’s supervision?

“Akpabio knows the level of support Ogbuku is galvanising for him and the presidency; he is holding the region firmly for Mr. President, especially during the fuel subsidy removal,” Tonjo-West stated.

He advised those linking Akpabio, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Chief of Staff to the President in a bid to cause discord to refrain as these seasoned persons know their antics.

“This calibre of technocrats cannot fall to these cheap antics, they already have seen and know the importance of Ogbuku to the federal government.

“We in MOSIEND know that they have a common interest in seeing that Dr. Ogbuku is allowed to continue to execute the visions of the presidency to the people of the region.

“Ogbuku is a very important asset to both Akpabio, the SGF, the Chief of Staff to the President and Mr. President himself, and we know that there cannot be any infighting.

“This is because they are well aware that everybody, irrespective of ethnicity or party, wants Ogbuku to continue. Why would anybody want to fight the revalidation of Dr. Ogbuku?” Tonjo-West asked.

MOSIEND noted that Ogbuku knows the Niger Delta issues like the back of his hand having been part of the struggle, having served in the Ijaw Youth Council and served the region creditably.

“We are vouching for him; let the president revalidate him and if he doesn’t surpass their expectations, then it is our fault.

“Akume, Gbajabiamila and Akpabio should also prevail on the president to revalidate Ogbuku because he is the only way through which the presidency can get the best from the people of the region,” Tonjo-West stated.

He said changing Ogbuku would not be a wise decision because he has shown the capacity and having another to take over from him at this point in time will mean dragging the region backwards.

He called on those behind the smear campaign to desist forthwith and not misrepresent the Niger Delta people because of their selfish interests and an inordinate desire to remain relevant at all costs.

Tonjo-West called on President Tinubu to revalidate Ogbuku’s appointment as substantive Managing Director of the NDDC.