Gov, minister battle over NDDC

Sun News

13 October 2011

Gov, minister battle over NDDC

...As Niger Delta group warns Jonathan

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Oduaghan, are reportedly locked in a battle of wits over who nominates a candidate to represent the state for the position of executive director on the new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

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It was further gathered that one of such meeting convened by the minister of Niger Delta Affairs was held at the residence of a former local council chairman in Kpakiama, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, where Orubebe reportedly announced the choice of a candidate from that town (Kpakiama). On his part, Governor Uduaghan is reportedly pushing for a candidate from Okpokunou in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, for the position in the new NDDC board. His choice of a nominee from the Ijaw speaking area of the state, according to informed sources, was aimed at neutralising the influence of Orubebe.

Daily Sun learnt that both parties were presently restricting the battle for the soul of the NDDC to the choice of candidate for executive directorship, even as checks indicated that the presidency might have resolved to retain the position of managing director in Rivers State where the erstwhile occupant, Chibuzor Ugwuoha, hails from, but was disposed to picking a candidate from the coastal area.

But reacting on the development, the Niger Delta Renaissance (NDR), a socio-cultural group in the oil rich region, has warned President Jonathan to be wary of the antics of both Governor Uduaghan and Elder Orubebe, describing their disposition to the nominee for Delta State on the new NDDC board as selfish and lacking the interest of the masses.