Danger Looms as Sylva Battles Akpabio Over Soul Of NDDC, Niger Delta Monarchs Warn

…Petitions Buhari   

Malik Yahya/

Barely 24 hours after the Federal Government recorded relief in its troubleshooting to douse tension in the Niger Delta region over a seven-day ultimatum given by ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, for the inauguration of a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, traditional rulers in Bayelsa State have warned on fresh danger.

The monarchs say youths are again, becoming restive as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, locked horns with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, over the soul of NDDC.

Specifically, they expressed fears on looming crises over reports that the junior petroleum minister is battling to upturn a nominee already forwarded for approval by Akpabio, the supervising minister of the NDDC, for the position of managing director in the yet-to-be constituted board of the Commission.

In a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari dated June 4, 2021, the traditional rulers urged him to ensure that any act capable of triggering further agitations in the Niger Delta be avoided as the region and the polity was already over-heated.

“On behalf of the traditional rulers and leaders of thought, particularly of Ekeremor L.G.A. extraction in Bayelsa State, we wish to respectively refer you to the issue above and draw your attention to the restiveness of youths resulting from this clear alienation by the APC led Federal Government. 

“Your Excellency Sir, we were highly elated by the newspaper publications naming one Elder Denyanbofa Dimaro, an illustrious son of Peretorugbene community in the Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State, as the Managing Director (MD) while Dr. Cairo Ojuogbo from Delta State as the chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). What has however heightened tension amongst the youths and citizenry is the growing rumor that the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva is thwarting this laudable effort of the Honorable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

In our opinion, the polity and the region are already over heated and anything that will bring about further agitations should be avoided”, part of the letter read.

It was signed by seven traditional rulers, and copies sent to the Commissioner of Police and Director, Department of State Services (DSS) in Bayelsa State, as well as the President of the Ijaw National Congress, INC.

Full text of the letter:

4^th June, 2021

His Excellency,

Gen. Muhamadu Buhari

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Presidential Villa State House

Abuja.

Attention: The Honorable Minister

Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs

9^th Floor Federal Secretariat Complex

Abuja.

Dear Sir,

LOPSIDED FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS IN BAYELSA STATE: REQUEST BY TRADITIONAL RULERS TO CORRECT THE ANOMALY IN FAVOUR OF EKEREMOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF A SUBSTANTIVE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (NDDC)

On behalf of the traditional rulers and leaders of thought, particularly of Ekeremor L.G.A. extraction in Bayelsa State, we wish to respectively refer you to the issue above and draw your attention to the restiveness of youths resulting from this clear alienation by the APC led Federal Government. 

Your Excellency Sir, we were highly elated by the newspaper publications naming one Elder Denyanbofa Dimaro, an illustrious son of Peretorugbene community in the Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State, as the Managing Director (MD) while Dr. Cairo Ojuogbo from Delta State as the chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). What has however heightened tension amongst the youths and citizenry is the growing rumor that the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva is thwarting this laudable effort of the Honorable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

The followings illustrate the lopsidedness of federal appointments in favour of Bayelsa East Senatorial District:

1.     Bayelsa State, like every other State in the Federation, has three senatorial districts, namely Bayelsa West comprising Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Governmen Areas; Bayelsa Central comprising Kolokuma-Opokuma, Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas; and Bayelsa East comprising Ogbia, Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas in accordance with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

2.     Whilst the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District has the benefit of producing the state governor in person of Sen. Douye Diri, every federal appointment/position is given to Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

For the avoidance of doubt, see below details of the current Federal appointments and the appointees from Bayelsa State:

1.     Minister of State for Petroleum – Chief Timipre Sylva from Brass LGA, Bayelsa East.

2.     President/Chairman, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas – HRM Edmund Daukoru (Former Petroleum Minister and uncle of current Minister of State for Petroleum) from Nembe LGA, Bayelsa East.

3.     Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) – Engr. Simbi Wabote (Chief Timipre’s cousin) from Nembe LGA, Bayelsa East.

4.     Representative, Ministry of Petroleum Resources – Barr. Oyanbo Peace Owei also from Brass LGA, Bayelsa East.

5.     Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) – Alfred Egba from Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa East.

6.     Federal Commissioner, Federal Character Commission – Tonye Okio from Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa East.

7.     Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko – Prof. Munakurogha Adigio, Nembe LGA, Bayelsa East.

8.     Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Otouke, Bayelsa State – Prof. Teddy Charles, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa East.

9.     The suspended 2019 Senate screened NDDC nominee for Executive Director, Finance & Administration – Maxwell Oko from Ogbia LGA (Bayelsa East).

10.                        Currently, Chief Sylva is mounting pressure to ensure that the position of Managing Director of NDDC is given to somebody from this same senatorial district, Bayelsa East.

The above is just some of the lopsided appointments.

From the aforesaid, it clearly shows that Bayelsa West comprising Ekeremor and Sagbama LGAs are unfairly treated. The Ekeremor LGA is a major oil and gas producing area. Besides, it also provided substantial votes for the APC in the 2015 and 2019 general elections that gave APC victory at the polls.

A list of oil fields domiciled in Ekeremor LGA is provided hereunder to make the point that the people of Ekeremor LGA are direct victims of the negative impacts of oil exploration and exploitation and therefore deserve to be so compensated:

a.                 Ogbotobo Oil Flow Station – operated by SPDC

b.                 Benisede Oil Flow Station – operated by SPDC

c.                  Opukushi Oil Flow Station – operated by SPDC

d.                 Tunu Oil Flow Station – operated by SPDC

e.                 Clough Creek Oil Flow Station – operated by NAOC

f.                   Cambo Oil Field – operated by SPDC

g.                 Part of Ogboinbiri Oil Flow Station – operated by SPDC/NAOC

h.                 EA Oil Field – operated by SPDC

i.                    Bonga Oil Field – SPDC

The host communities to these Oil Flow Stations and Fields include:

1.	Peretorugbene		9.	Letugbene
2.	Ogbotobo		10.	Agge
3.	Azagbene		11.	Ogbeintu
4.	Koromotoru		12.	Orobiri
5.	Tububou		13.	Amatu
6.	Ngoloba		14.	Egbemo- Angalabiri
7.	Bilabiri		15.	Agbidiama
8.	Bisangbene

It is also noteworthy to state that these host communities have well educated and experienced men and women capable of occupying the position of Managing Director of the NDDC and deliver the mandate of the commission.

We are therefore pleading with Mr. President to consider giving the appointment of the substantive Managing Director of the NDDC to someone from within the above mentioned communities in the Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State and particularly as already announced in the media. In our opinion, the polity and the region are already over heated and anything that will bring about further agitations should be avoided.

While thanking you in anticipation of your consideration for this plea, please accept the assurances of our highest regards for your esteemed person and office.

Signed:

HRM King Joel Ekeni Ibane (JP)                                       HRH SIMON ONNIYE

Ogiobo                                                                                    Amananaowei

The Grand Pere of Iduwini Kingdom                                 Tububou Community

HRH TIMI ODIKEME OKERE                                             CHIEF BEDEI OYINMO   

Pere Foukeregha 1V                                                            Amananaowei

Amananaowei                                                              Egbemo-Angalabiri Community

Peretoru Federated Communities                            

HRH ROMAN DERIABEBE                                           HRH SAMUEL SAPELE           

Amananaowei                                                                         Amananowei

Letugbene Community                                                   Ogbotobo Community   

HRH AMAME F. ORU                                                                                                                                       Amananaowei

Azagbene Community                                                 

Copy:

1.	The President,  Ijaw National Congress (INC)		3.	The Director,  Department of State Services, Bayelsa State
2.	The Commissioner of Police (CP), Bayelsa State Command

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