…claims NDDC resources diverted to other States
By Akubulu Ngozi
The Chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, has claimed that Nigeria the lingered development in Niger Delta is a deliberate attempt by the Nigerian Government to ensure that the State does not developed.
The Traditional Ruler alleged this today on Arise News Television following the President’s, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, approval of the appointment of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC Board and Management Committee.
Roundoffnews recalled that, the President on Tuesday approved the appointment of the NDDC Board and management committee which include: Mr Chiedu Ebie, as the Chairman; Dr Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director and Mr Boma Iyaye, Executive Director Finance and Admin.
According to King Bubaraye, neglection of the Niger Delta Region has slow down its growth.
He said, “Most of us in the Niger Delta just feel whenever we end up having a commission like the NDDC, we look at it and feel it is good for us, but it is just a deception as beautiful as it looks. Even as important as the law is, the system also ensure that the law does not work, they won’t allow it to work. Even if you have good intentions, when you come in there people will put strings around you until you get uncomfortable and of course because things are difficult you may just want to keep going until your season is passed.
” The problem of the Niger Delta is largely the Nigeria States. Nigeria as a nation is making sure that Niger Delta does not develop, as such, it picks and chooses who to put there and whosoever they put there they manipulate from Abuja that it becomes impotent, that is the story.”
Also commenting on the cause for the slow progress in Niger Delta, King Bubaraye alleged that, most of the resources that belonged to the State are often diverted to other States in the Country, with minut share allocated to the State, which according to him, cannot meet up to the development demands the State needs.
He said, “The NDDC resources are found in most of the states in this Country, infact less of it is found in the Niger Delta. We can find these resources in the east, west, south and very little of it is found in the Niger Delta.
Stating out his opinion about the newly appointed NDDC Boards, the King said that, ” For the new management, the Management for the past few months has already done some innovations and it’s looking like public partnership and a kind of new method where private sectors would be directly involved such that things would be accountable to the people.
“At least they are youth and have been activists and Dr. Ogbuku has been an activist of the Niger Delta. So we are hoping, given the right atmosphere if people do not entwist him. I believe he is going to perform and that is what we want the institutions of Nigeria to help in complementing, they should assist the NDDC to perform as much as possible.
“And yes it is a little painful when you come from this part of the world when you see the East-West Road that is being constructed for ever. Since I was born and now I am getting old the East-West Roads are still under construction.
“Some of the contracts are phantom, which means there are no contracts anywhere, but just paper works, then they are collecting multiples of millions of Naira without liaising with the State. The State just see something being done somewhere that serve only the interest of the contractors and some of his benefactors by the NDDC or somewhere in Abuja.”
