Bernard Okumagba

By Zik Gbemre

We were not really surprised with the recent appointment of Bernard Okumagba as the new Managing Director (MD) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). This is hinged on the undeniable fact that it is only the Urhobos in Delta State that actually voted for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC. If the voters did not vote Buhari, he would not have won the election to be elected President for another term in office. The evidence in this regard is clear and simple.

The only APC Senator that made it to the National Assembly is the Deputy Senate President, Senator (Chief) Ovie Omo-Agege.  The only two APC House of Representatives members in the lower chamber are Urhobos. The only APC members in the Delta State House of Assembly are the Urhobos. That is politics in Nigeria for you. You reward those who supported you to win elections. But the most important thing is to appoint a “qualified” supporter.

It is without a doubt that Bernard Okumagba has an impressive resume, with the requisite skills and professionalism to manage NDDC. When Shagari was elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria back in those days, the Urhobos were the only tribe that voted for him in the then Bendel State, and he recognized this. And then he appointed Ovie-Whiskey as the FEDECO Chairman, Onosode as the presidential Adviser on national Budget, Daniel Okumagba as the Chairman of Ajaukuta Steel Plant, and Fred Brume was retained as the then Chief Executive of Delta Steel Company (DSC). Dr. E. J Sowho and Bokolor were also appointed Ministers at different times. As I said, if the President was not voted for, he would not have been elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Urhobos remain the only tribe that actually voted for the APC in Delta State, and there is actually nothing wrong if President Buhari should recognize the Urhobos in his appointments in the APC administration. The most important thing here is that that Okumagba is qualified as a person to become the MD of NDDC.

Urhobos are one of the major oil and gas producing ethnic tribes in Nigeria, and they voted for the APC in the last election, so, Buhari is on course with his action, as he has done the right thing with the said appointment of an Urhobo son as the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director (MD) of the NDDC, period! All the reported contrary statements by some APC minority groups in Delta State, are nothing but “pepper-eye” and totally uncalled for. Okumagba, as the new MD of the NDDC, is representing the Urhobos and the entire Niger-Delta region. But most importantly, he will perform well as a vibrant young man. Bernard Okumagba is a technocrat and very qualified to head the NDDC. President Buhari also did well by appointing an Isoko person as the Delta State Representative in NDDC, Prophet Jones Erue.

The only advice we give Bernard Okumagba is that his reign in office as MD of NDDC should not be like his predecessors. The NDDC has been too politicised. It has been an avenue through which the National wealth is shared amongst a privileged few. Most NDDC projects are for the elites and politicians. Bernard Okumagba as the new MD of NDDC should change this narrative by ensuring that NDDC projects and programmes are “physically on ground” for the benefit of the locals of the Niger Delta region. We are aware that the task before the new MD is huge but Bernard Okumagba should not abuse the trust imposed on him with this appointment. Let us hope that he would make a big difference in the lives of the locals of the Niger Delta region.

Zik Gbemre,

August 28, 2019.

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