A coalition of groups drawn from the South South region has warned protesters of some appointees to refrain from antagonistic postures to avoid jeopardising the overall development of the region.
This followed a widespread protests and petitions against the appointment of Mr. Effiong Akwa as the Sole Administrator of the Niger Development Commission (NDDC).
Addressing newsmen separately at press conferences on Thursday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, Bro. Ken Edet Bassey, the National President of the Oro Progressives Movement (OPM) and his counterpart of the Niger Delta Conscience Coalition (NDCC), Comrade Aniefiok Obot, solicited the cooperation of the regional stakeholders for peace.
Obot, who led other stakeholders and kinsmen from Oron, where Akwa hails from, noted that the mandate of sanitising and putting the NDDC and putting it on the pedestal of driving growth and development of the area would only be achieved through stability and peaceful atmosphere.
He recalled that several years of rots since the creation of the NDDC in 2000 compelled the Niger Delta governors to agitate for the repositioning of the commission in line with its mandate.
The President explained that the choice of Akwa was informed by the decision of the court which removed the former interim management led by Mr. Kemebradikumo Pondei.
“Let me draw the attention of our protesting brothers to contentiously bear in mind the historical bond and brotherhood that bind us together in the Niger Delta in the region and indeed the entire country.
”In unity, let us support President Muhammadu Buhari’s commendable efforts at finding lasting solution to the problems affecting the NDDC and the Niger Delta communities,” he stressed
In the same vein, the National President of the NDCC group, Comrade Obot, reminded the protesters that the region belongs to the Niger Deltans and appealed to them against overheating the polity for development to thrive.
“All the states in Niger Delta have equal stake,” Obot said and condemned the protest in some quarters against the appointments of Mr. Akwa as the interim administrator of agency and that of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio.
He cautioned those who are against the appointments to be mindful of the fact that they “cannot be more Niger Deltan than others.”
“It is noteworthy to stress that there is no state or place mentioned above that is more Deltan than others, whether by it population segment, vegetation or topography.
“Therefore, this group takes exception at the attitude of entitlement displayed by certain groups, sections, communities against and towards our appointed representatives in the running of the affairs of the Niger Delta whether it is at the centre or at the regional level of NDDC.
“In the face of the above, the Niger Delta Conscience Coalition hereby rises and states emphatically that both the recently aborted mother of all protests planned by the Ijaw youths and even the notice of planned shutdown of the headquarters of NDDC through their publication in one of the national dailies of 5th January are uncalled for, unacceptable, divisive, irrational and totally.
”It is aimed at stultifying the wholesome agenda of development and uncommon transformation currently being engendered by the President Mohammadu Buhari-led federal government as is being driven by the Minister of the Niger Delta.”
Obot argued that only issues of neglect, exclusion, instances of favouritism, .denial of rights or privileges and other forms of infringements could throw up protests in a pluralistic society.
According to him, the deliberate attempt to cow the interim administrator into resigning his appointment from office because a certain group claimed they are more than others is unacceptable and should be condemned by all.
”We make bold to say that the care giver which these protesting groups represent will not and cannot turn or usurp the role of the gatekeeper which the office of the Minister of the Niger Delta and Interim administrator hold in socio-political mana0gement and affairs of the Niger Delta,” he said.
