NDDC: Shutting Down Niger Delta Not An Option – IYC

Ijaw Youths Council, IYC Abuja Chapter, has reaffirmed that shutting down the Niger Delta region in protest against the managerial system of allowing the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to be run on interim administration basis, is not an option to be adopted by youths of the oil-rich region.

Briefing the press over the weekend in Abuja, Barr. Ogbofini Dennis, National Deputy Director of Mobilization of the IYC Abuja Chapter was responding to plans by members of the IYC to shut down the region upon the expiration of a one-month ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate a substantive board for the NDDC.

Ogbofini called on other IYC members to embrace peace and adopt dialogue in resolving the issues, considering other security challenges facing the country, as well as youth restiveness in the region.

He noted that any attempt to shut down the region will affect the aged people, adding that it will also confirm the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva’s warning that violence in the region will scare away oil companies from coming to invest unless peace is guaranteed.

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

“As a serving executive member of the IYC Abuja Chapter and a key stakeholder of the Niger Delta, I also want the board to be inaugurated. But I have since observed that having a board has never been the problem of the NDDC.

“We should also consider the hunger strike that our mothers and fathers may face if eventually we shut down the region, we should think of the resulting effect of the planned protest,” he added.

Also speaking, General Momos Wilberforce an ex-agitator urged the president and his exco to shed it's sword and call for dialogue between the Federal Government and stakeholders of the region that will bring long lasting solution to the demands of the people, 

He also used the opportunity to plead to  president Mohammad Buhari to increase the fundings of the NDDC and the Presidential Amnesty program

Misappropriation, Lack of Accountability are problems of the NDDC- IYC

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC has attributed misappropriation of Commonwealth and failure of a  proper accountable system as reasons why the Niger Delta Development Commission has suffered set back in recent times.

The IYC made the assertion over the weekend while announcing its suspension of  the one month ultimatum to shutdown the region.

The group who further used the opportunity to call for a dialogue with the Federal Government added that while the ultimatum had gotten the attention of the president, it was necessary to apply wisdom so as to reduce the economic impacts a shutdown might have on the people.

Addressing the press, the National Mobilization Officer, Barr. Dennis Ogbofini, noted that the conference became necessary due to the future of the region. 

According to Ogbofini, the Niger Delta region has been the most peaceful region so far and a protest to shutdown the economy might result in unwarranted implications such as hijacking of the struggle by miscreants  and politicians.

“we call on the youths to reconsider shutting down the region in view of the prevailing security situation of the country. The security situation in the country does not favour protest by a large crowd because it can be hijacked by hungry or hoodlums who seek to shed the blood of innocent people.  

“ The IYC cannot create such opportunities for hoodlums and bandits.”

The National Mobilization Officer thus urged youths to instead shut down offices of their representatives. This he said was because they (representatives) had the ‘power to stop the budget and ensure the inauguration of the board.’ 

Responding to questions as regards other methods to be used by the IYC in ensuring obligation of their  demands a stakeholder in the group, Mamus Wilberforce said, “ shutting down the Niger Delta can never be an option to make peace.  Making peace in the Niger Delta is not by shutting it because it affects our mothers in the village and everyone.  This is why we need wisdom in approaching this issue. We expect the leadership of the IYC to apply wisdom in handling these issues. Why should the region which comprise of 9 states be shut down when we can negotiate.”

Ijaw youths had last month given the Federal Government a one month ultimatum to inaugurate a permanent board for the NDDC which would comprise of representatives of the nine states in the region. While making threats to shut down economic activities in the region, the group complained about the setting up of an interim board whose members do not cater for the need of the region.