The Dangerous Politics Over Nddc's Board
SGF MUSTAPHA, BUHARI IN STORM OVER NDDC BOARD EXTENSION
√ YOUTH GROUPS CALL FOR JUSTICE
√ AS SENATOR OGOLA, HON. DIRI WANT SINCERITY OVER NIGER DELTA MATTERS
Political intrigues and illegalities have forced the Senate to put the Office of the Secretary of the Federation and President Mohammadu Buhari in the eyes of the storm over the
controversy surrounding alleged illegal extension of the Senator Udoma Egba-led board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The action of the Senate, which orders the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, to handle the matter is a test case for the new SGF and President Mohammadu Buhari who are being watched, whether the alleged extension will be cancelled.
The assignment will indeed, show case the new SGF as a shrewd crisis manager, bridge builder and sincere leader or prove him other wise, depending on how he handles the matter. Or whether he will act like his predecessor, the Acting SGF, Dr. Habiba Muda Lawal, who allegedly extended the tenure of the board by four years?
These challenges are as a result of the tension and distrust already rocking the country on issues concerning ethnic sensitivity and equal sharing of projects and appointments, which the Niger Delta and the Igbo States feel they are the worst hit.
The job handed to Mr. Mustapha, the new SGF, is even more difficult to handle, considering the influence wielded by Senator Victor Ndoma, a multi-time Senator of the Upper Chambers, legal luminary and a PDP-cross-over member of the APC, who got rewarded right away with the plum job of NDDC board chairmanship soon after the APC got to power.
Although, Senator Ndoma, as former lawmaker and lawyer knows the illegality of having his tenure extended against the stipulations of the NDDC Act, and the reactions from the region, he may be merely testing troubled waters of the Niger Delta. He and his cohorts might be banking on President Muhammadu Buhari to seal the deal with executive fiat and disdain for law, irrespective of public outcry.
Thus, the SGF, is looked up to as the trouble shooter to patriotically advise President Buhari to toe the part of honour and justice by dissolving the Ndoma Egba-led board, as it expires December this year. The test on the part of President Buhari is whether he could downplay any politicking in the matter as well as show his avowed interest for peace and development in the Niger Delta by respecting the zoning provision in the Act setting up the commission. Or whether he will use executive fiat to push the law aside and extend the tenure of the board. Time shall tell, as December inches in.
The report that the alleged illegal extension was done by the out gone Acting SGF, Dr. Habiba , may have warranted the wisdom of Senate to pass the herculean and somewhat political task to the same office, under the new SGF, Mustapha. Though appropriate to tell the office that poured the palm oil to scoop it back, the Senate could have been more drastic in handling the matter, if not that President Buhari may soon dissolve boards due for dissolution. This is where fear still grips the affected states because the Ndoma Egba board has already been allegedly extended, hence might not be among those to be reconstituted by President Buhari, except by a court order to do so and for the chairmanship of the board to be given to the rightful State.
PMB ASSURES BALANCE IN NEW BOARD APPOINTMENTS
But President Buhari has assured that he will strike a balance in political appointments. This is despite the presidency haven recently published a list of appointees to show regional and ethnic spread.
President Buhari disclosed to a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), that he has already directed that a list of heads of parastatals be submitted to him, to enable him know how to balance any lopsidedness.
This development coinciding with the NDDC board's tenure extension, may be an opportunity to address the problem - but only God knows.
The Senate's decision to transfer the matter to the Office of the SGF, followed a motion by Senator Paulker Emmanuel (PDP, Bayelsa Central), for which, based on input by Majority Leader of the Senate Ahmed Lawal and others who spoke in favour, was so resolved that the SGF should handle the matter. The Senate Committee on NDDC was mandated to liaise with SGF, to see that the matter was resolved.
SENATOR PAULKER'S MOTION TASKED SGF, BUHARI
Senator Paulker in raising the motion, described the extension of the Udoma Egba-led board to four years as gross illegality, void and should be so voided.
Senator Paulker , argued that the NDDC, as an organization set up to develop the region, was statutorily designed to promote peace. Hence he said, the Act setting up the commission provided in section four, rotation of the board's chairmanship among the nine states in alphabetical order. According to him, the rotation had being sustained from inception, with Abia State taken the first turn.
But surprisingly, he said, the tenure of the present board, led by Senator udoma Egba has been illegally extended by four years, contrary to Section 5(3) of the Act, by the immediate past Acting SGF, Dr. Habiba.
Senator Paulker explained that Senator Egba continued the tenure of Senator Bassey Henshaw, whom he (Egba) was appointed by President Buhari to replace. Therefore, he said, going by Section 5(3) of the Act which forbids counting fresh tenure for a person completing an existing tenure, the current tenure started by Senator Bassey and handed over to Senator Egba, lawfully ends December this year.
Paulker thus prayed the Upper Chambers to investigate and ensure that the illegal extension is averted, cautioning that, the wrong action could inflame avoidable crisis in the region.
But the Senate resolved to let the matter be handled by the SGF's Office before it can take any action given that it emanated there, besides need to cooperate with the new SGF who has just started work and seems to be cooperating with the Upper Chambers in smoothing the wheels of governance.
NIGER DELTA YOUTH GROUPS, MOSSOP WARM UP FOR ACTION, AS AVENGERS DROP THREATS
While, the outcome of the SGF's intervention is awaited, youth groups in the Niger Delta are threatening a showdown with the NDDC and the Federal Government, if the alleged tenure extension is not reverted.
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has called on the Federal Government not to allow Senator Egba to continue as chairman of the board of the NDDC, because it will note be the turn of Akwa Ibom State by after December 2017. The IYC equally wants the Managing Director, Nsirima Where to be removed on expiration of the board.
A statement by its president, Mr. Oweilaemi Peretubo, said no state should be deprived when it is it's turn, warning that such action would cause interstate crisis.
The IYC called on President Buhari to stop the extension, stating that it was the handwork of selfish politicians from the region, bent on causing interstate strife for their personal gains.
The IYC said even if it was to be given to an APC member, the state due for the position has indigenes who are top notches of the party, and anyone of them could be given the position.
Also, the Niger Delta Youth Leadership Forum, has said the extension of the current board to four years was unacceptable, thus could breach the fragile peace in the Niger Delta that was already ridden with militant agitations.
A statement by the group through its, Mr. Richard Akinaka, secretary, Mr. Ubok-Ubong Umoh and the spokesman, Mr. Jack Success, decried the action as an aberration and a show of insensitivity to the people.
The group therefore, called on President Buhari to dissolve the board and appoint a person from the rightful State, to avert crisis.
Recently, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), threatened resumption of bombing of oil facilities in the region, as oil price picked up and Nigeria raised Dollar price of oil benchmark for its more N8trillion.
The NDA hinged its grouse on the Federal Government's delay in implementing development agreements that lead to its seizure of hostilities. The government knowing what was coming against its economy if bombings resume in the region, and with the pockets of threats concerning the NDDC board issue, bulged in by mending fence with the NDA. The NDA has announced withdrawal of threat to resuming action, following Federal Government's renewed promise to commence development programs in the region, a promise the NDA has said it will watch for three months, else it would renege its later stance.
As if these were not enough headaches for the Federal Government, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSSOP), has also given ultimatum for the multi billion Naira oil pollution project in the land, else it will protest seriously.
The project, for which the International Court of Justice in Hague, Netherlands passed judgement in Ogoni favour, against Shell and Nigeria's government, was not implemented by the defunct Goodluck Jonathan administration. When the Buhari-led APC government okayed it on assumption of office, Ogonis and the APC jubilated, and castigated Dr. Jonathan and the PDP. But the joy is now short lived, like that of the Ikoyi Whistle blower now labelled mad man.
SENATOR OGOLA SAYS 2018 BUDGET SHOWS FG NOT SINCERE TO NIGER DELTA, AS HON. DIRI CONDEMNS POOR USE OF 2017 BUDGET
These kind of issues and the continuous maltreatment of the oil rich Niger Delta, are what perhaps, made Senator Foster Ogola (PDP, Bayelsa West) to lament the lack of sincerity in addressing problems of the region.
Senator Ogola said even the 2018 Appropriation Bill does not have adequate financial provisions and projects for the Niger Delta which deserves attention most given its revenue contributions and inequitable development.
Ogola who spoke with Senate correspondents, decried that there is nothing in the proposed budget to show that Federal Government has the Niger Delta at heart.
According to him, the budget tagged "Budget of Consolidation" can not bring about the development promised by the Buhari administration.
The Senator further said that if the Federal Government and other regions do not change their attitude to the plight of the Niger Delta, it would amount to more militancy, to cripple the nation's economy.
He pointed out that the ex-militants trained in various academic areas and trades are returning home without jobs, as such the scenario of unemployment that is facing these returnees and other youths would create room for more militancy.
Thus, he called for industrialization of the Niger Delta to absorb the unemployed youths while also establishing training institutions in the region, to train other youths.
Similarly, Hon. Douye Diri of the House of Representatives (PDP, Yenagoa Federal Constituency), expressed reservations about the 2018 Appropriation Bill.
Speaking with correspondents, Hon. Diri expressed doubt that the budget could bring about the much needed development in the country and the Niger Delta.
He said that the 2017 budget did not yield results as it was poorly implemented, querying why a new budget should even be proposed.
Hon. Diri said the poor implementation, was a breach of the 2017 Appropriation Law.
In like manner, many senators criticised the executive arm for poor budget financing and implementation, especially borrowing incessantly to fund the 2017 budget which results were yet to be seen.