A bitter power struggle has erupted in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as the current Managing Director, Sam Ogbuku, faces opposition from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.
OGBUKU SEEKS REAPPOINTMENT, WIKE BACKS DELTA CANDIDATE
Ogbuku, who is from Bayelsa, is seeking reappointment, but Wike is backing another candidate from Delta State, sparking a rift between the two.
RUMBLING TAKES TOLL ON AGENCY
The fallout from this power struggle has already begun, with casual staff at the agency not receiving payment for the past month. Additionally, the seizure of Horlicks Event Centre, which is owned by one of Wike’s allies, Alabo George Kelly, has further exacerbated the conflict.
BOMA IYAYE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE
The situation has also affected Boma Iyaye, who has been accused by Wike’s camp of abandoning their cause. Iyaye is reportedly angry that he couldn’t facilitate employment for his own people in the agency, as Wike is favoring candidates from his own area.
AGENCY GRINDS TO A HALT
The crisis has brought the agency’s activities to a grinding halt, with no meaningful projects or initiatives underway.
The development has raised concerns about the future of the NDDC and its ability to deliver on its mandate to develop the Niger Delta region.
