Twist of events and a paradigm shift towards repositioning the Niger Delta region to meet its required development and empowerment which can be seen in President Muhammadu Buhari’s NDDC board appointment. Trying new hands in management of the NDDC board is the best thing that has happened in this administration with huge respect to Mr. President’s second term in office which is needed at this material time to upshot infrastructure, human capital development, and empowerment of youths in the region which can be seen in Mr. President’s leadership disposition as regards NDDC board appointment and he should, as a matter of fact, be applauded by all. President Muhammadu Buhari has engendered new dawn in the annals of history in the Niger Delta region in the NDDC board composition.

‘‘To further set the record as regards the NDDC appointment, the commission whose leadership position over the years has been occupied dominantly and majorly by four states, namely Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa state. The Leadership of NDDC at the apex level has not really trickled down evenly on the other states like Edo, Delta, Abia, Ondo, and Imo state in 19 years of its creation to bring development and empowerment to the region which is the mandate of NDDC. It is on record that the above-listed states have not held an apex leadership position in the Commission at the management level substantively either as Board Chairman or Managing Director”

‘‘The appointment of the NDDC board is at the discretion of Mr. President on who he prefers to handle the responsibility of managing the resources, budgetary, and statutory allocation as accrued to the commission judiciously to develop and empower the region primarily to reduce youth agitation and for national development to engender peace and progress in the region. It is a right step in the right direction in order to balance the equation, the indifferences, and the lop-sidedness in the commission leadership composition over the years. The truth is bitter but it remains the only thing that can set anyone free; it is the only way to overcome all challenges, afflictions, and troubles of life because truth is the only virtue that can attract supernatural blessings unsolicited. At this moment, the truth must be told to further calm the overheated system and the undue agitation and rejection by some stakeholders in the Niger Delta region on the NDDC board appointment made by Mr. President and to learn to accept new ideas and approaches which are characterized in President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership style. Breaking new grounds in management of resources and human is Mr. President’s watchword and delight’’

The approved 16-man new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, are as follows, Dr. Pius Odubu from Edo State as the chairman, among the board members, are Bernard Okumagba from Delta State, who will serve as Managing Director; and Otobong Ndem from Akwa Ibom, who was appointed as the Executive Director, Projects.

Others are Maxwell Okoh from Bayelsa State; Jones Erue from Delta State; Victor Ekhatar from Edo State; Joy Nunieh from Rivers State; Nwogu Nwogu from Abia State; Theodore Allison from Bayelsa State; Victor Antai from Akwa Ibom State; Maurice Effiwatt from Cross River State; Olugbenga Elema from Ondo State; Uchegbu Kyrian from Imo State; and Aisha Muhammed from Kano State representing North-West area on the board

‘‘The appointment of the NDDC board is a new order against the normal precedence that people are familiar with. It is quite understood that people are not used to “change” let alone President Muhammadu Buhari’s “next level” which was launched before the general election. We want to use this ample opportunity to thank Mr. President for his decision to revamp the Niger Delta region through the new appointment of the NDDC board which is clearly Mr. President’s way of changing old narratives and bringing about a new dawn in the region. We applaud the president for the new record he has set for the region, we accept it in its entirety and the Niger Delta youths shall support the new board appointees to succeed while in office’’

We use this medium to express our displeasure over the deplorable state of the Niger Delta region with regards to underdevelopment which is very disappointing holding to the huge financial allocations to the region since inception which is running into trillions of naira with little work to show for the monies expended so far in the commission since creation; it is so worrisome and baffles me how people can be so callous. Therefore rejection of NDDC new board appointment by those drumming the sound of discord among the good people of the region is insensitive, they should withdraw steps forthwith in order to permeate peace and political stability in the region in order not to get on the bandwagon of those who are hell-bent on always criticizing the goodwill of Mr. President.

I hereby challenge the newly appointed board to be of good conduct in carrying out their statutory duties without bias and free from corrupt practices that has always engulfed NDDC; they should work in unity and purpose and be open to correction at all times in order to deliver the dividend of democracy to the good people of the Niger Delta region.

It is against the background that we pass a vote of confidence on the new NDDC board appointees and urge them to remain committed to the course of the people, not to trample on the confidence reposed in them by President Muhammadu Buhari to bring about rapid development in the region. We use this medium to call on the Senate of the National Assembly to go ahead and confirm the newly nominated NDDC board members on the ground of their merits for that which they have been appointed to serve, having been found qualified in content, character, and administrative ability to oversee NDDC affairs. We urge Mr. President not to rest on his oars of building peace and harmonious environment in order to emplace rapid development in the Niger Delta region in his second term in office; and to subsequently confirm the present Acting Managing Director of the commission who is from Delta State to further balance the equation maximally on a fair basis of equity which will bring about peace and development in the region.
Once again congratulations to the appointees

Ambassador Agbonkpolor Aironmwanbor Splendour
Executive Director
Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria