Niger Delta {Groups} have accused NDDC MD, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku of neglect regardless of their loyalty and help.
PoliticalNews Nigeria stories that three influential Niger Delta advocacy {groups}; Orashi Nationwide Congress (ONC), Southern Youth Basis of Nigeria, and the Sustainable Growth & Peace Initiative of Indigenous Contractors (Niger Delta) have accused the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Growth Fee (NDDC), Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, of sidelining them regardless of their longstanding help for his administration.
At a press convention held Thursday, June 5, in Port Harcourt, the coalition, led by Ambassador Comrade Emeni Ibe, President Basic of ONC and Chairman of the Indigenous Contractors’ Initiative, expressed dismay over what they described as “whole neglect” by the NDDC beneath Ogbuku’s management.
“Nobody within the area can deny our unwavering help for Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku since he assumed workplace,” Ibe acknowledged. “When he confronted opposition, we stood by him. We held press briefings, engaged the media, highlighted his achievements, and even mobilized to Abuja—fully at our personal expense—to defend his mandate. We additionally wrote to the President to advocate for stability on the Fee.”
Regardless of these efforts, the {groups} say they’ve been excluded from the Fee’s empowerment and growth applications, alleging unfulfilled guarantees of inclusion.
“He assured us that we might be carried alongside, and we in flip pledged our loyalty,” Ibe added. “However nothing has come of it. Our youths are rising stressed and accusing us of compromise, which is unfair. We’ve remained dedicated, but we’re left within the chilly.”
The coalition, made up predominantly of youth from the oil-producing area, additionally famous their ongoing help for peacebuilding and anti-sabotage efforts. They pointed to their roles in discouraging pipeline vandalism, unlawful refining (‘kpo fireplace’), and cultism, saying their peaceable advocacy has earned commendation from safety companies and conventional rulers.
“We aren’t asking for handouts,” mentioned Ibe. “We’re demanding equity. We’ve labored for peace, championed growth, and stood by the NDDC management via thick and skinny. It’s disheartening that others proceed to reap advantages whereas we stay marginalized.”
The {groups} referred to as on Dr. Ogbuku to urgently handle youth empowerment and inclusion, utilizing the Fee’s numerous initiatives to acknowledge those that have constantly supported its mission and stability.
As discontent grows inside Niger Delta stakeholder circles, the highlight now turns to how the NDDC boss will reply to the grievances of grassroots allies who as soon as shaped the bedrock of his help base.