By Francis Sadhere

Activist and lawyer, Barrister Robinson Ariyo has called on the Nigerian Senate to halt the screening of the Delta State candidate nominated for the position of Executive Director, Projects (EDP) in the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, Engr. Samuel Adjogbe Ajenakevwe, saying his nomination is against the principle of Federal character.

Engr. Samuel Adjogbe Ajenakevwe.

According to Ariyo, candidates presented for nomination in the board from Delta State is usually rotated among the five ethnic groups in the state, adding that the tenure of the former director in the board was halted before the expiration of his tenure and therefore must be replaced with somebody from that same ethnic group whose tenure was not allowed to finish.

The activist who was addressing newsmen in Warri, yesterday said they are challenging the nomination at a Federal High Court in Abuja, in suit number FHC/ABJ/05/700/2016, seeking an interim injunction restraining Engr. Ajenakevwe for clearance for appointment as the EDP on the Board of the NDDC.

While saying that he was not against any ethnic group in the state, he said what he and others were fighting for was for the benefit of every ethnic groups in the state, saying that what is happening to the Itsekiri ethnic group could happen to other ethnic group in  future.

He reminded journalists that the fight they are fighting now had been fought by the Urhobo ethnic group in the state when there was a vacancy in the commission in 2003.

He said, “I could remember sometimes back when Engr. Godwin Omene, an Urhobo, could not complete his four years  tenure as Managing Director, NDDC, Senator Emmanuel Agwariavwodo completed it. Elder P. Z. Aghinighan, an Ijaw, did not complete his tenure as Executive Director (Finance and Administration), but another Ijaw man, Lambart Kumboye completed it. Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, an Isoko, could not complete his four term, but his brother Solomon Ogba completed the tenure.”

Ariyo  disclosed that  he was speaking as the counsel to the three Engineers from the Itsekiri Ethnic extraction who indicated interest for the vacant position in the Commission and two others.

The three engineers are, Engr. Sunny Demi-Ejegi, Engr. Toju Victor Afinotan and Engr. George Aghaninoma. The two other plantiffs are, David Odeli and Felix Ighomieyetan.

“We want the National Assembly to know that we have approached the Court to stop the nomination of the Delta State candidate nominated for the position of Executive Director, Projects (EDP) in the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, Engr. Samuel Adjogbe Ajenakevwe. It is our appeal therefore to members of the Nigerian Senate to please stop his screening, his screening should be put on hold pending the determination of our Court case against his nomination”,  the Warri based lawyer said.