No place for sole administrator in NDDC Act, Delta monarch tells FG

The monarch of Idjerhe Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM, Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, Udurhie I, has told the Federal Government that there is no provision for a sole administrator in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act of 2000.

The monarch said any attempt by the Federal Government to impose a sole administrator for the Commission would spark another round of crisis in the region.

President Muhammadu Buhari had recently appointed Effiong Akwa as the sole administrator of the Commission following the sacking of the Kemebradikumo Pondei-led Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC.

Speaking on Monday when the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council and the NUJ Warri Correspondents Chapel paid him a solidarity visit, the monarch said the NDDC Act of 2000 does not makeup provision for a sole administrator.

He, therefore, called “on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency inaugurate the board that has been screened and confirmed by the Senate under the chairmanship of former deputy governor of Edo State, His Excellency Dr Pius Odubu, with Chief Bernard Okumagba as the managing director”.

READ ALSO: Lagos remains strong despite challenges; commissioner

“The situation in the Niger Delta today calls for the serious immediate intervention of the Federal government. I want to say very clearly and loudly that the attempt by any individual or group of individuals to foster a sole administration on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NCDC) is totally unacceptable.

“The NDDC is a Niger Delta affair and handing a budget of over N500 billion to one sole administrator is not known to the laws that established the NDDC,” the monarch said.

He said the Federal Government cannot pretend that all is well when an individual would be made to corner all the wealth of Niger Delta region.

“We also see the Niger Delta Ministry as the ministry of all Niger Deltans. So whatever happens in that ministry too is of serious concern to us,” he said.

The monarch also advocated that the royal institution in Nigeria be given constitutional responsibilities, noting that before the advent of the colonial masters the royal institution was the bridge that brought the people together.

“Today when there are tough situations in the community they will say go and call the kings. But when everything is fine, nobody will hear from the government.

“The National Council of Traditional Rulers should be able to come together and advocate for constitutional duties for traditional rulers because governors will come and go but the king remains. There are certain things that the king will pass to the incoming governor if they have constitutional duties,” he said.

Earlier, the chairman of the NUJ Delta State Council, Michael Ikeogwu, said the union decided to pay the monarch the solidarity visit to let him know that the union is in full support of his kingship.

He said that the enthronement of the monarch in Idjere kingdom is a testimony to the fact that any man who believes in God and works tirelessly for his vision and a mission must surely succeed.

“You are the second king being produced by the NUJ in Delta. The first one is from Idumuje-Uno. Your kingship is a special one for us the NUJ because you were one of us before you were crowned. And I believe that you will not be in a hurry to leave us anytime soon,” Ikeogwu said.

“We are convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that your reign in Idjere Kingdom will bring development and peace. We know that you are a dogged fighter and we know that you will do whatever it takes to make this kingdom prosperous,” he said.

Ikeogwu said for the NUJ to move forward, it needs people like the monarch of Idjerhe Kingdom, adding that society moves forward when people partner together.

“We want to assure you that the NUJ will support you in whatever capacity we can to ensure that people far and near hear about your good reign.

“For us in the union, we must take the union from where it is today to where we want it to be tomorrow. But for us to achieve this, we need the collective effort of all,” Ikeogwu said.