There seems to be worries in the camp of the nine
governors of the oil-producing states over Niger Delta Development Commission
(NDDC), as they plan to meet this week to discuss the appointments of the
members of the board of the Commission.
One of the governors, who spoke to journalists, said
all things being equal, the governors may meet on Thursday, adding that their
grudge with the NDDC appointments was "lack of consultations before
appointments."
The governor, who does not want to be quoted,
stated that when the NDDC governors met the president on October 17, the president
promised to consult with them before the NDDC board would be constituted,
stating that: "We are therefore surprised with the appointments without any
consultations with anyone of us.
"President Muhammadu Buhari on October 17 at
the Presidential Villa in Abuja had a closed-door meeting with the nine governors
of oil producing states-Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo,
Abia, Imo and Ondo.
"It was at that meeting that he promised that
there would be a forensic audit of the affairs of the NDDC since inception. He
also promised to consult with us before the constitution of the NDDC board, but
look at what has happened now. None of us was consulted."
The governor said that the NDDC governors may meet
Thursday this week to discuss the appointments as the appointments may threaten
the peace of the region
The oil-producing state governors had resolved to
meet President Buhari over his recent appointments into the NDDC board.
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, disclosed
this while speaking with journalists after the governors met in August this
year in Abuja.
Dickson said after the meeting, the governors of
the oil producing states and different political parties met to discuss and
review current developments and their concerns pertaining to the NDDC.
He said: “We are all unanimous of the view that we
are concerned about the governance process in that very critical agency (NDDC).
“We are aware of the general dissatisfaction in the
Niger Delta region and in the various states. We are also concerned about the
way and manner the recent appointments have been made.
“Arising from all of these, we therefore want to
use this opportunity to call for calm in all our states and the region at large.
“As you are aware, there were some protests in so
many states following the recent appointments that were made.
“Accordingly, we decided that as soon as it is
convenient with the president, we intend to have audience with him
”We are critical stakeholders, and the NDDC is a very
critical developmental agency that is supposed to partner and collaborate with
the state governors, unfortunately we have not seen much collaboration."
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