NDDC BOARD: Barrister Ogbofini Reacts To Planned Protest By Ijaw Youths

••• Call For Peace

The National Deputy Director of Mobilization and the National Leader representing Abuja, Barrister Ogbofini Dennis has reacted to plans by members of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) to stage a protest against the current leadership of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The NDDC is currently lead by an interim administration pending the appointment of a new board of directors. Barrister Ogbofini who is also an executive of the IYC have advised the council members on the planned protest.

In lieu of this The Ijaw Youth Council, have given a one month ultimatum to the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio and President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Commission’ board of directors.

Barrister Ogbofini, has therefore in a statement stated that he doesn’t support the planned protest. He also advised the IYC to wisely address the issue on ground.

“As National Deputy Director of Mobilization and the national leader representing Abuja in the National Exco I am deviating from the said protest, why because the Niger Delta region as been suffering from Youth restiveness, now that we are enjoying little joy from the oil companies and others, if we do that, the federal government will shift from the areas we are benefiting today. I expected the Ijaw youths to apply intellectual methodology to address issues”, Barrister Ogbofini stated.

Ogbofini in a statement signed adviced the youths not to shut down the region due to the level of insecurity in the country. According to him the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums.

He also noted that the one month ultimatum given by the IYC might put President Muhammadu Buhari in a stiff position.

“We should also consider that, giving such ultimatum amounts to armtwisting the President, who in his wisdom, based on consultations and advice by the Niger Delta governors, ordered a forensic audit of the commission”, thestated.

In his statement, Barrister Ogbofini reiterated the need to rid the NDDC of corrupt persons and as a result of this, the commission need to be audited.

Finally, Barr. Ogbofini and his team appreciate the Amnesty boss on peace building in Niger Delta Colonel.

They commend Colonel Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), for bringing and restoring relative peace in the Niger Delta region. “Today the Niger Delta region both the Multinational Companies are enjoying peace in the region brought by the Dikio because he has engaged all ex- agitators and their followers in building peace in the region.” He has called to listen to us and have dialogues with us and has shown interest in the genuine development of the Niger Delta, especially the prompt payment of monthly stipends to ex-agitators, payment of students on scholarship and payment of backlog payment of contracts and others”