Jonathan And NDDC Palaver

Leadership

14 December 2011

Jonathan And NDDC Palaver

AKANIMO SAMSON

Some stakeholders in the Niger Delta dare President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on the recently reconstituted board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) reports AKANIMO SAMPSON in Port Harcourt.

Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), a socio-political group operating in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s main oil and gas basin, is spoiling for war against President Goodluck Jonathan. Analysts say the battle is akin to the Matador Vs the Bull’s. The bone of contention is the reconstituted board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The federal government reconstituted the board following recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye panel. The panel was set up by government to probe the immediate- past board headed by retired Air Marshal Larry Koinyan. It turned in a damning report indicting the management and board of negligence and financial infractions.

But spokesman for the group, Mr. Inemo Semiama believes the membership of the new board leaves much to be desired adding that majority of the appointments appear to repeat the mistakes of the past. He said politics triumphed over reform at the interventionist agency as far as the selection process was concerned.

According to SDN, ‘’those seeking reform at the NDDC will likely be profoundly disappointed by the calibre of the new directors and people in the key management positions. The new Managing Director (MD), Chris Oboh, comes from the middle ranks of Agip Management, an Italian oil major. It is still doubtful whether new MD has the qualification and capacity to reshape a deeply troubled organization with 1300 staff and a 2010 budget of $1.6 billion.’’

Oboh was the best man at Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi’s wedding while the board is peopled by political jobbers.

For the protesting group, the risks are obvious. In the past, the NDDC functioned primarily as a patronage channel dominated by state governors who offer names to the Presidency for positions knowing full well that such appointees will do their bidding.