Put sentiments aside and support NDDC management, group urges protesters

The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) Worldwide has urged aggrieved youths who protested alleged marginalisation of Delta State in Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to put sentiments aside and support NDDC management, led by Dr Samuel Ubuku.

Its National Coordinator, Mr Jator Abido, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen shortly after prevailing on the protesting youths and asked them to continue to support the Samuel Ubuku-led NDDC management for the good of the region.

Citypost reports that NDYC Worldwide is a socio-cultural organisation that represents the interests of youths in the Niger Delta region and the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NDENYLF)

Abido called on the aggrieved youths in the region and other interest groups to shun violence and embrace dialogue.

He added that they should not allow their protests be hijacked by enemies of development to unleash mayhem on a region already battered by insecurity and environmental degradation.

NAN recalls that the Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Network had few days ago written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demanding the appointment of a Delta State indigene as the Managing Director of NDDC following the expiration of the tenure of Dr Samuel Ugbuku.

The coalition also accused the NDDC management of corruption and mismanagement, threatening to protest if their demands are met.

The NDYC national coordinator debunked the allegations that there was mismanagement in NDDC as well as insinuations that the NDDC Act was breached in the appointment of the NDDC Board.

“What we have witnessed here is needless and there’s no need to protest or to disturb the peace of the FCT simply because we want a change in leadership or we are dissatisfied with a leader.

“So far, the current management of NDDC has performed credibly well and we must put sentiments aside and support them.

“Mr. President is an attentive leader who listens to his people. It is therefore misleading to insinuate that Mr. President breached the NDDC Act in appointing the current Board of NDDC.

“Those propagating such falsehood are only interested in enriching themselves at the expense of the masses in the region.

“It is imperative to note that supporting the current management of NDDC is supporting Mr President and his Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We all know that Mr President wants the best for the Niger Delta region and could not have gone against the law or remain silent if there was mismanagement of our collective resources by a few,” Abido said.

He thanked the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Security Service for their swift intervention for containing the situation in the most professional manner.

“We are grateful for the securities for their intervention.

“The clash between the Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Network and the NDYC Worldwide was uncalled for but we remain steadfast in our support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Dr. Samuel Ugbuku and Chiedu Evie led NDDC.

“We do not have any personal interests except to ensure sustainable development of our region,” he said.

Other NDYC executive members who engaged a crowd of protesters were Mr Beke Apere, Board of Trustees (BOT), NDYC, Comr Akowien Joshua, PRO, NDYC.

========