Governor Hope Uzodinma, of Imo State, has called on Niger Delta stakeholders to shun politics so that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) would function properly for the development of the region.
Governor Uzodinma made this remark while hosting the NDDC Interim Administrator, Mr. Efiong Akwa, and his team of directors at the Imo State Government House, Owerri, the state capital.
He noted that the commission is not working effectively due to politics, adding that the people of the Niger Delta should not allow politics to hamper the work of the commission.
Governor Uzodimma said: “The time for politics is over. This is a time for governance.”
The governor commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for appointing Akwa as the NDDC Interim Administrator pending the composition of a substantial board for the Commission.
He stated that the mission of the commission is to fast-track development of the oil-producing region of the country.
“NDDC is not an ethnic or tribal organization,” the governor explained and warned those trying to portray it in that light to stop forthwith.
Acccording to him, it is bad to hear that some young people from the region were being sponsored to protest against the activities of the NDDC
His words: “Since it is the wisdom of Mr. President to put in place an Interim Administration, we are bound to respect the position of the President and support the Interim Administrator.”
Uzodimma added: “No need of building many roads that will not last for one year before they go bad. Imo State has had its fair share of broken down infrastructure. But I think it is high time the NDDC provide infrastructure based on need assessment of the people. Compulsory needs assessment by NDDC is important if want want value for money.”
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer told the governor that the Interim Management was meeting with key stakeholders of the commission as President Mohammadu Buhari has directed.
Akwa continued: “Partnership is a key aspect in United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It advocates for a shared vision, shared responsibility, shared commitment, as well as shared budgeting process and implementation of development initiatives.
“That was the spirit in fashioning a Master Plan for the Niger Delta, the vision of our shared allegiance to this great region. After so many years of neglect, it is important that, together, we do far more for our people. It is important that we do more for a region which has provided the bulk of Nigeria’s wealth, and accounted for our rise in the comity of nations.”.