Gbajabiamila is the best thing to happen to Nigeria, says Hon. Adedoyin

An All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Lagos State, Hon Adeyinka Adedoyin, on Tuesday said the election of Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives was a sign of further development, true federalism and respect for the rule of law in Nigeria.

Adedoyin spoke at a gathering of religious leaders, politicians, women and youth leaders in Surulere.

He said Gbajabiamila’s victory was well deserved as “it is the result of hard work, confidence and above all, God’s intervention.”

 “I consider it remarkable that the representative of Surulere Constituency 1 is occupying the speakership position. I am confident that those values which inspired the Honourable Members to elect him will be maintained and even surpassed.”

He called on Gbajabiamila to engage the National Assembly members, Presidency and the leadership of APC in new and exciting ways.  

Adedoyin who congratulated Gbajabiamila on his election as Speaker urged him to fashion out strategies to run his office efficiently and work out how to relate with the presidency without losing the confidence and respect of Nigerians or his colleagues in the National Assembly.

“I am sure with the impeccable credentials, strong character, honest disposition and accessibility, Gbajabiamila will discharge the burden of the new office and take Nigeria to new heights.”

Specifically, he urged Gbajabiamila to ensure that his words and actions promote peace, harmony and development.

He appealed to members of the 9^th Assembly to be committed to their legislative and oversight functions.

Credit: Ebireri Henry Ovie

Okparanta Chides Kennedy Friday for Unwarranted Abuse on the Minister of Transportation

According to Mr. Oge Okparanta a Rivers State Youth Leader, "I read with tears in my eyes the unwarranted  media attacks on a national asset and statesman, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze and Nigeria' s pride, Rt. Hon. CR Amaechi by one disgruntled Kennedy Friday, Sen. Abe's untutored and kindergarten media aide.

I think Kennedy Friday and his paymaster can focus squarely on issues without derailing into the gutter. Name calling and personality attacks are products of ill-education and contrary to every recognized standards of civilized behaviors. Abe and his media boys should focus on issues and criticize constructively as is the case in civilized polities. Better still, they can learn from Chief Eze's style of publications which only attacks the forces of evil with the view to restoring sanity in the society.

In fact, it is unfortunate to observe that Kennedy Friday has taken the media to the cleaners. As a patriotic Nigerian, I advice Abe to hire some  competent hands into his media cartel. This times are too serious for confused social media kids like Kennedy Friday who is only good at heaping praises on Abe just to get some 'pocket-money' for himself while attacking national figures like HE., Rt. Hon. CR Amaechi, the APC leader, South-South and Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze who have contributed and are still contributing to national  development.

Sourc: Oge Okparanta

Niger Delta leaders decry marginalization of Delta State

….Urge Buhari to appoint Indigenes as NDDC Chairman, Managing Director

Niger Delta leaders on Friday vowed to take up the marginalisation issue of Delta State with the highest authority in Nigeria.

The leaders said there was no reason whatsoever for Delta State to be so treated compared with Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River in the appointment of Chairman and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

At a meeting in Abuja, the leaders said it was the turn of Delta State to produce the chairman and managing director of the Commission.

‘’The NDDC Act stated that the office of the chairman shall rotate amongst the member states of the commission in the following alphabetical order; Abia State, Akwa Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Delta State, Edo State, Imo State, Ondo State and Rivers State.’’

‘Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Umaru Musa YarÁdua, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Onyema Ugochukwu (Chairman 2001-2005) Abia State, Sam Edem (Chairman, 2005-2007), Akwa-Ibom, Dan Abia (Acting Chairman 2007-2009), Akwa-Ibom, Larry Koinyan (Chairman (2009-2011), Bayelsa State, Tarifa Tebepah (Chairman 2011-2013, Bayelsa State, Bassey Henshaw (Chairman 2013-2015), Cross River State and Ndoma Egba (Chairman 2016-2019), Cross River State.’’

Leader of the Niger Delta Front (NDF), Chief John Harry who addressed journalists in Abuja said the leaders urged Nigerians to impress on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Delta State indigenes as chairman and managing director of the commission.

‘’ The NDDC Act requires that there shall be for the commission, a Managing Director and two Executive Directors who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the member states of the Commission with the highest production quantum of oil and shall rotate among member states in the order of production.’’

They said Rivers State occupied the position of Executive Director (Finance and Administration) for years through Itonanen Ogiri (EDFA 2013-2015), Mene Derek (EDFA 2016-2019), and Chris Amadi (Transition Acting EDFA 2019-2019.

‘’The right thing to do is to appoint someone from Bayelsa or Akwa-Ibom as the Executive Director (Finance and Administration) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).’’

Viewed against the background of the provisions of the NDDC Act, the leaders urged the authorities not to compound the problems of the Niger Delta region or make absolute nonsense of the NDDC Act.

‘’It is time to exhibit fairness.’’

The leaders commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the effort he was making to develop the region.

They called on well-meaning people within and outside the Niger Delta region to prevail on President Buhari to Delta indigenes as chairman and managing director.

 ‘We expect the President to use the next NDDC Board to correct the imbalances of previous appointments. We believe in Mr President’s sense of justice and fair play’’ the leaders added.

Meanwhile, some leaders of the region on Wednesday reached a consensus on how to consolidate the unity and political stability of the region.

They also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Deltans as Chairman and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

‘Mr. President, Nations are built when existing laws are implemented in its entirety. As you apply the Law and zero on Delta State for the appointment of the Chairman and Managing Director, we plead with you to pick men or women who would further your Next Agenda, serve the interest of the country and the aspirations of the Niger Delta people.’

In a letter to President Buhari, the leaders said there were no doubts as to whether Delta State would produce the Chairman and Managing Director of the intervention agency.

‘The ranking of the highest producing states is not in doubt and the state whose turn it is to be appointed the Managing Director of the next board for which Delta State comes top on all fronts and consideration knowing that Bayelsa State, Rivers State, and Akwa – Ibom State have completed their terms in successive ranking order’.

Entitled “Letter establishing the fact on which state should produce the next Chairman and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)”, the leaders said the letter was not to create controversy but to forestall such or any controversy due to the peculiarity of the circumstance created by the Law or Act.

‘Your Excellency, your stance on the Rule of Law and love for fairness and justice no matter the opinion of a few dissenting voices necessitated this letter of great importance from the people of Delta State and the Niger Delta at large. We were never in doubt as to where the pendulum would swing to, having seen the sincerity of your administration in fixing the problems inherited by your Government.’

Signed by the Convener, Enlightened Delta Forum, Bestman Odibo and Publicity Secretary, Christopher Orushani, the leaders urged President Buhari to consider fairness and justice in constituting the next board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

‘For the first time, Your Excellency, a peculiar but interesting and lawful scenario backed by the act establishing the NDDC Board on the next Chairman of the board which is rotated amongst member states in alphabetic order as stated in the Act establishing the board and also the Managing Director (MD) position which is appointed and rotated based on the “highest” quantum of oil produced amongst the states emanating from one state. In applying the law that supports quantum as the basis for succession, Delta State falls next in line after Akwa – Ibom.’

They stressed that the scenario would not start and end with Delta State as the First beneficiary of this unique position of the Law but that other states would experience same in future rotation.

 ‘Your Excellency, we are glad to point to you the convergence of the positions of the Chairman and the Managing Director to Delta State though the first of its kind but a true reflection of the position of the Act establishing the Board of the NDDC’ the leaders added.

Onyema Ugochukwu (Chairman 2001-2005) Abia State, Godwin Omene (MD/CEO 2001-2003), Delta State, Timi Alaibe (EDFA 2001-2005) Bayelsa State, Ndo Mboro (EDP 2001-2002), Akwa-Ibom State, Emmanuel Agwariavwode (MD/CEO 2003-2005) Delta State, Ukot Ukot (EDP 2002-2005), Akwa-Ibom State.

Sam Edem (Chairman, 2005-2007), Akwa-Ibom, Emmanuel Agwariavwodo (MD/CEO 2005-2006), Delta State, Timi Alaibe (EDFA 2005-2006), Bayelsa State, Timi Alaibe (Acting MD/CEO 2006-2006), Bayelsa, PZ Aginighan (Acting EDFA 2006-2006), Delta State, Beniah Ojum (EDP 2005-2009), Rivers State.

Dan Abia (Acting Chairman 2007-2009), Akwa-Ibom, Timi Alaibe (Substantive MD/CEO 2006-2009) Bayelsa State, PZ Aginighan (Acting EDFA 2007-2009), Delta State, PZ Aginighan ( Transition Acting MD/CEO 2009-2009), Delta State.

Larry Koinyan (Chairman (2009-2011), Bayelsa State, Chibuzor Uguoha (Substantive MD/CEO 2009-2011), Rivers State, PZ Aginighan (EDFA 2009-2011), Delta State, El Etteh (EDP 2009-2011), Akwa-Ibom State, Osato Arenyeka-Iyasere (Transition Acting MD/CEO 2011-2011), Edo State.

Tarifa Tebepah (Chairman 2011-2013, Bayelsa State, Christian Oboh (Substantive MD/CEO 2011-2013), Rivers State, L.E.J. Komboye (EDFA 2011-2013), Delta State, E. Eshiet (EDP 2011-2013), Akwa-Ibom State, Christy Atako (Transition Acting MD/CEO 2013-2013), Rivers State.

Bassey Henshaw (Chairman 2013-2015), Cross River State, Dan Abia (Substantive MD/CEO 2013-2015), Akwa-Ibom State, Itonanen Ogiri (EDFA 2013-2015),Rivers State, Omasuli Tuoyo (EDP 2013-2015), Delta State, Ibim Semenitari (Transition Acting MD/CEO 2015-2016), Rivers State

Ndoma Egba (Chairman 2016-2019), Cross River State, Nsima Ekere (Substantive MD/CEO 2016-2019), Akwa-Ibom State, Mene Derek (EDFA 2016-2019), Rivers State, Adjogbe Samuel (EDP 2016-2019), Delta State.

Nelson Brambaila (Transition Acting MD/CEO 2019-2019), Bayelsa, Chris Amadi (Transition Acting EDFA 2019-2019), Rivers State, Adjogbe Samuel (Transition Acting EDP 2019-2019), Bayels State.



Credit: Ebireri Henry Ovie