The people of Ogbia kingdom in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the reappointment of their son, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission.......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
Addressing a press conference on Monday in Yenagoa, they also appealed to the various aggrieved groups, including those who planned protests against Ogbuku’s reappointment to sheath their swords and embrace constructive dialogue for the greater good of the Niger Delta region.
The Obanobhan of Ogbia kingdom, King Dumaro Charles-Owaba, and the acting National Chairman of Ogbia Brotherhood, Dr Azibalaguo Seibofa, commended former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Tinubu for the appointment and re-appointment of Ogbuku as NDDC Managing Director.
They also thanked the people and governors of the nine NDDC states for their maximum support for Ogbuku.
Reading the text of the press conference, Dr Seibofa, who is also the traditional Prime Minister of the Ogbia kingdom, expressed regret that the area was yet to witness transformation despite its contributions to Nigeria’s economy.
Seibofa said since the discovery of crude oil in 1956 and the discovery of more oil wells as well as trillions of cubic feet of deposits of gas in other towns and villages in the Ogbia kingdom, an unquantifiable volume of crude oil and gas worth trillions of naira and hundreds of millions of dollars have been piped out of the land without commensurate reward.
Flanked by other traditional rulers, leaders of thought, former and serving political appointees and other leaders from the area, he said, “Oloibiri-Otabagi and other communities in Ogbia kingdom have been abandoned for decades without efforts by the International Oil Companies and the Federal Government to deliberately develop the area or embark on remediation to curb the devastation, degradation and destruction of our environment, including wildlife and aquatic life, the flora and fauna.
“Right from the first republic that the Niger Delta Development Board was established by the Alhaji Abubakar Tarawa Balewa government to the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission by the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida regime, no son or daughter of Ogbia kingdom was appointed to head any of the interventionist agencies despite our immeasurable sacrifices as the cradle of oil and gas wealth in the country.
“While we acknowledge the natural scramble for power and available opportunities, we wish to appeal to all the various aggrieved groups, including those planning to protest against our son, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, to sheath swords and rather embrace constructive dialogue.
“As a kingdom, we have always supported other Niger Deltans and successive administrations; we therefore appeal for the same total support for our son.
“While we vehemently oppose the trend of removal of Ogbia people in public offices, like the cases of Chief (Senator) Dr Melford Obiene Okilo as governor of Rivers State in 1983 and President Jonathan in 2015, we commend and appreciate the various policies, programmes and projects of Mr President under the Renewed Hope Agenda that are geared towards reforming, transforming and repositioning the economy of our great country.
“We also extend the same token of love, support, solidarity and commendation to the governors of the nine NDDC states and also wish them well in the discharge of their constitutional duties and responsibilities.”
