Imo NDDC Slot: As Oil Communities lay Claim to turn
Walter Duru
For those who are not aware, the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) dissolved recently by President Goodluck Jonathan shall soon be reconstituted. There is intense lobbying going on. Horse trading is the situation presently, with candidates struggling to be appointed into the very juicy Board.
The Niger Delta Development Commission is an interventionist Agency set up by an Act of the National Assembly in order to overcome infrastructural deficiencies in the nine oil producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers. Since its inception in 2001, four representatives from three out of the nine states have chaired the board in line with alphabetical criteria stipulated in section 2(1) (b) of the Act.
Apart from other representatives allowed by the Act, the Board of Directors of the Commission is made up of representatives of each of the aforementioned nine States.
In Imo, at the end of every tenure of the Board, stakeholders make claims and counter claims on whose turn it is to be appointed as the state representative.
Recently, a group in Egbema in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of the State took virtual space on some national daily newspapers, laying claims to the position. The group claimed that it is time to appoint another Egbema man to represent the state in the Board of NDDC. That singular step attracted unprecedented criticisms, with many describing it as a ploy to cajole the President into taking an unpopular decision.
The fact is that there are four Oil producing Communities in Imo State, which are: Egbema, in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area; Ohaji, in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, Oguta, in Oguta Local Government Area and Izombe, also in Oguta Local Government Area.
Available statistics suggest that out of the four Oil Producing Communities located in two local Government Areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta, Izombe is presently crying over marginalization in appointments. It is the highest Oil producing community in the state.
Izombe is an oil producing Community that plays host to two Multinational oil giants: Chevron Nigeria Limited and Addax Petroleum Nigeria Limited. The community has some of the most educated and brilliant brains in the State.
Also, available records show that, out of the four oil producing communities earlier mentioned, Izombe is the only community that is yet to produce a Commissioner to represent the state in the Board of the Commission, a situation that has agitated the minds of people of the area overtime.
From the time that the Commission was created in 2001, up to 2004, Professor Victor Kogah, an Egbema indigene served as Commissioner representing Imo in the NDDC Board. Between 2004 and 2008, Honourable Emmanuel Eric Assor, an indigene of Ohaji represented the State in the Board of the Commission; while Mr. Ikechukwu Akeru, an Oguta community indigene represented the State in the Board between 2008 and 2011. In the just dissolved Board, another Oguta community indigene, Mr. Peter Emma Ezeobi represented the state in the Board; leaving Izombe, the highest Oil producing community behind.
More so, Mr. Bons Nwabiani, an Indigene of Oguta Town was the first Commissioner in the defunct OMPADEC, which was also the slot of Oguta Local Government Area. Many have asked, "when will Izombe be remembered in the scheme of things?"
Meanwhile, leaders of Izombe community, in a letter addressed to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan decried what they described as the age-long neglect of the Community.
In the letter signed by the four Traditional Rulers in Izombe Clan, under the aegis of Izombe Council of Traditional Rulers, addressed to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the people urged the President to use his good offices to correct the imbalance by appointing an indigene of the community as Commissioner representing the State in the Board of the Commission about to be reconstituted.
The letter, dated 22nd July, 2013, signed by His Royal Highnesses, Eze B.A.E. Nwauwa, Eze Oliver Okorowu and Eze Pius Muforo lamented over the long neglect of the Community in appointments, especially, as it concerns the NDDC.
The letter reads in part, "Our President, your background puts you on a better pedestal to understand the predicaments of a long neglected area and grossly marginalized people, such as Izombe Community, in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. We urge you to use your good offices to right the wrongs in the system by appointing an Izombe indigene as Commissioner representing Imo in the Board of NDDC about to be reconstituted."
Meanwhile, different candidates are believed to have indicated interest in the plum job in the state, using various contacts and means to lobby the Presidency; thereby making choice a challenge to the Country's number one citizen.
While we await the President's verdict on the matter, it is believed that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Izombe community has a strong case. Giving them a sense of belonging as an oppressed people could be counted as righteousness for the present administration.
Send Emails to wanabidii@googlegroups.com
Kujiondoa Tuma Email kwenda
wanabidii+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com Utapata Email ya kudhibitisha ukishatuma
Disclaimer:
Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Wanabidii" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to wanabidii+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
0 comments:
Post a Comment