Niger Delta groups, Orashi National Congress, ONC, Southern Youth Foundation of Nigeria and Sustainable Development & Peace Initiative of Indigenous Contractors (Niger Delta), have lamented about total neglect by Chief Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the MD of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
The groups, speaking through the President General of the Orashi National Congress and Chairman of Sustainable Development & Peace Initiative of Indigenous Contractors, Amb Comrade Emeni Ibe, said that not minding their huge support that they have benefitted nothing from the initiatives and projects embarked upon by Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku since he assumed leadership of the Commission.
On Thursday 5th June, 2025, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, they highlighted the neglect of their groups comprising mainly of Niger Delta youths in all the empowernment drives and job creation opportunities of the Commission not minding their continued support.
Speaking on behalf of the embittered groups, Amb. Comrade Emeni Ibe said, “No one in our region will claim being unaware of our huge support for the NDDC Boss, Chief Dr Samuel Ogbuku, since assumption of office”.
“When many detractors came against Chief Dr Samuel Ogbuku,, we granted several Press Conferences and went on different radio stations to highlight the numerous projects across the Niger Delta region, which Dr Ogbuku was doing. Our strong belief in his ability to steer the ship of the Commission made us write an Open Letter to Mr. President published in different media platforms and equally mobilized to Abuja as groups at our own cost. We did all these because we were against continously changing of NDDC MDs, which did not allow for proper developments in our region and because of our belief in his capacity.”
“Before now, Chief Dr Samuel Ogbuku has promised to carry us along and we equally pledged our unalloyed and continued support. At different times, we have called on the NDDC boss to give attention to the teeming youths in our groups. So far, no attention whatsoever has been given. The youths even began to allege that the leadership of the groups had been settled by the Commission leaving them behind.”
“We are non-violent groups and over the years we have remained committed to the campaign against pipeline vandalism. We have continued to lead several campaigns against illegal refinery and kpo fire.”
“Our advocacy campaigns against cultism have not gone unnoticed in the region. We have not reneged on our mandate of promotion of peace and security. We also have synergy with traditional rulers and security agencies all geared towards peace, security and development of the region.”
“We have suffered too much neglect. We therefore, once again cry and appeal to Chief Dr Samuel Ogbuku to please use his good office to empower the teeming youths in our groups through the different noble initiatives of the Commissioner.”