The Niger Delta Rescue Movement (NDRM) has kicked against a “clandestine plot against the people of the Niger Delta region” by those pushing for the scrapping or merger of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The group which said the development is worrisome stated that those behind the plot including serving Ministers and federal lawmakers from the region are doing so for their very nefarious and self-seeking greed.
The National Coordinator of NRDM, Mr Preye Miebi in a statement titled ‘Clandestine Plot against NDDC Must Fail’ noted that any conspiracy against the people of the Niger Delta region, who are yearning for socio-economic development, is bound to fail.
Miebi while recalling years of agitations of the people of Niger Delta which made some agitators to pay the supreme price call on President Muhammadu Buhari to reject any suggestion about scrapping or merging NDDC with the Ministry of Niger Delta.
He said those pushing such a plan want to create a wedge between the Presidency and the people of the Niger Delta region while triggering a climate of instability in the region.
He urged President Buhari to accelerate the process to inaugurate the Board of the commission and appeal to the people of Niger Delta to remain calm and ignore deliberate plans to set the region on fire through provocative statements.
“NRDM has noted the worrisome development of underground moves by some persons within and outside the Niger Delta region against the development of the Niger Delta region. These sets of people are fixated in creating a state of insecurity in the Niger Delta for selfish reasons . These people are behind suggestions calling for the scrapping of the NDDC or its merger with the Ministry of Niger Delta because the Commission has failed the people.
“While we are not ready to join issues with these enemies of the Niger Delta, NRDM wishes to make it clear that the people of the Niger Delta region will resist any moves to scrap or merge the NDDC with the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs. NDDC by the Act establishing it was an interventionist agency specifically created to attend to the developmental needs of the people of the Niger Delta region after years of neglect by successive administrations in the country.
“NRDM called on President Buhari to match action with words over
his avowed love for the people of Niger Delta by ensuring the inauguration of the NDDC board and returning the NDDC to the Presidency for proper supervision and effective service delivery to the people. The years NDDC worked for the people of the Niger Delta region were the years it was under the Presidency, so we are advocating that it should be returned to the Presidency.”
