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Protesters Block East-West Road in Delta Over Marginalization in NDDC Appointment
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By Francis Sadhere, Warri
Protesters in Delta State took to the streets on Wednesday morning, blocking the East-West Road in Ughelli, to demand the appointment of a Delta State indigene as the next Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The demonstration, organized by the Niger Delta People’s Assembly, caused major disruption to traffic as protesters gathered with placards calling for justice, equity, and fair representation in the leadership of the NDDC.
The placards carried messages such as, “Niger Delta People’s Assembly Say No To Dr Agbuku As Managing Director of NDDC. It Is The Turn Of Delta State,” and “Abuse of The NDDC Act Is A Catalyst of Crisis In The Niger Delta Region. President Tinubu Act Now To Save The Nation.”
Comrade Charles Ejor, Coordinator of the Niger Delta People’s Assembly, addressed the media during the protest, expressing the group’s dissatisfaction with Delta State’s exclusion from holding the office of NDDC Managing Director.
Ejor pointed out that despite Delta State’s vital role in the oil sector and its significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy, it has been continually overlooked for the position.
The protesters cited Section 12, Subsection 1(d) of the NDDC Act, which mandates that the Managing Director and Executive Directors of the commission rotate among oil-producing states.
With the recent expiration of Dr. Samuel Ogbaku’s tenure as Managing Director, the group argued that it is now Delta State’s turn to assume the position.
Ejor stated, “The exclusion of Delta State from this critical leadership position is unjust and goes against the NDDC Act. Delta State has contributed immensely to the nation’s growth, especially in the oil sector, and it is only fair that we are given our rightful place in the leadership of the NDDC.”
Comrade Samuel Obada, another leader of the protest, also condemned the continued marginalization of Delta State in NDDC appointments. “We are bitter about the marginalization of Delta State in NDDC appointments, which is why we came out today,” Obada remarked. “We are peaceful and loving people, but it is our right to protest and make our grievances known to the world.”
The Niger Delta People’s Assembly emphasized that the protest was a peaceful attempt to highlight the regional inequalities in leadership within the NDDC.
They called for the Nigerian government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to address what they see as a systemic injustice and ensure Delta State is given its fair chance to lead the commission, in line with the principles of fairness and regional representation.
The protest concluded with a call for swift intervention from President Tinubu to resolve the issue and ensure that Delta State is given the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta region through leadership at the NDDC.
The demonstrators stressed the need for equitable distribution of leadership positions to maintain peace and foster development in the region.