The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone has called for calm amid attacks against Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In a statement by the IYC Western Zone Chairman, Comrade Nicholas Igarama through the Information Officer, Comrade Tare Magbei, Council called on concerned parties to apply caution in calling for the sack of a fellow Ijaw man from office.
The statement titled “ATTACKS ON MD/CEO OF NDDC: IYC CALLS FOR CALM AMONG IJAW YOUTHS”, reads;
“The leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone (Delta, Edo, and Ondo), led by Comr. Nicholas Igarama, has called for absolute calm regarding the ongoing online media attacks on the person of the MD/CEO of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
“While the concerns of leaders regarding NDDC projects in the Western Zone—especially in Delta State, where these agitations began—are genuine, it is also important to note that the man currently piloting the affairs of the NDDC is an Ijaw man.
“If we continue our agitations to the extent that he is removed from his position as the head of the NDDC and someone from another ethnic nationality takes over, it will be a significant loss to the Ijaw Nation.
“Therefore, while we commend those speaking out to ensure that their areas receive a fair share of NDDC projects, Council also encourages the adoption of other means to engage the NDDC and secure its attention for the Western flank of the Ijaw Nation, ensuring the desired impact of its projects.
“We also used this opportunity to call on the management of the NDDC to address the genuine concerns raised by Ijaw youths, who sincerely mean well for their people.
“We urged them to assess the number of projects executed in the affected areas and ensure that essential social and infrastructural amenities are provided.
“Council uses this medium to call for total calm as we look forward to more effective engagement between the NDDC and critical stakeholders of the IYC Western Zone regarding project implementation in the areas of concern. We in the Western Zone are peace-loving and are not known for such ‘pull-him-down’ tactics.
“Dr. Sam Ogbuku is our brother from the Central flank and has been performing well in his area of focus. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we all understand that the MD cannot complete all projects at once. Therefore, we once again call for absolute calm among the youths in the zone.
“Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has the prayers and best wishes of the Western Zone in his endeavours, and we encourage him not to be distracted from his good work.”
