SYF, Youth Groups & Opinion Leaders Ask President Tinubu To Ignore Calls For Removal Of NDDC Executive Management

Southern Youth Foundation of Nigeria, Youth Groups and Opinion Leaders have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard and ignore calls for the removal of the NDDC Executive Management ably led by Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.

Speaking on behalf of the groups and stakeholders during the media briefing on Saturday 18th May, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Snr. Comrade Emeni Ibe, the SYF President General said, “We are compelled to react to unfounded calls for the removal of Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku led NDDC Executive Management over alleged corruption in NDDC in an address to His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by a faceless group with the name South-South Youth Federation etc. wherein, yet again several allegations of misconduct were leveled against Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku led NDDC Executive Management”.

“The attention of the Southern Youth Foundation of Nigeria, Youth Groups and Opinion Leaders have been drawn to some spurious and unfounded allegations leveled against Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku led NDDC Executive Management.”

“We wish to categorically state that the Board led by Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who were appointed recently are performing their jobs creditably well in line with the mandate given to them by Mr. President.”

“We have investigated thoroughly and have come to the conclusion that all the allegations against the Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku led NDDC Executive Management were fake, false, baseless, unfounded and unsubstantiated. This is the first time a Comrade, who is a product of our struggle in the Niger Delta, is managing the NDDC and has ever come down to listen to the plight of the youths and people of the region and give express approval to their earnest demands.”

“In a resounding show of support and confidence, the leadership of the Southern Youth Foundation of Nigeria, in conjunction with Opinion Leaders and Youth Groups, recently passed a vote of confidence on Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku Led NDDC Executive Management. This decisive decision was reached at the conclusion of an executive management roundtable conference held in Port Harcourt on the 21st of April 2024.”

“The unanimous decision to endorse the current leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was based on their demonstrated commitment to advancing the development agenda of the Niger Delta region. The Southern Youth Foundation of Nigeria emphasized the need for continuity and stability within the NDDC, citing past disruptions caused by frequent removals or dissolutions of previous boards and managements, which resulted in project abandonment and hindered regional development efforts despite significant funds allocated over the years.”

“We wish to use this press statement to exonerate the Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku led NDDC Executive Management of any wrong dealings during the recent payment of contract from 1million to 50 million or any other transactions in the NDDC, as he has promised that before the end of the year that most outstanding debts will be cleared.”

“We thank the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the presidential order to the Executive management to key into the Renewed Hope agenda of the government, which they are implementing to the best of our knowledge. We therefore, we call on Mr. President and Nigerians to be confident in the executive Management of the NDDC to manage and allow them to conclude and summit their unbiased work report to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“The Southern Youth Foundation and the opinion youth leaders from the Niger Delta having highlighted the importance of supporting Chief Samuel Ogbuku Led NDDC Executive Management in their efforts to drive meaningful development across the Niger Delta, urge the presidency to disregard purported petitions against the NDDC Executive Management, labeling them as premature and distracting from the region’s development goals.”

“The confidence placed in Chief Samuel Ogbuku led NDDC Executive Management by the Southern Youth Foundation of Nigeria and other stakeholders reflects our collective belief in their ability to steer the NDDC towards impactful and sustainable development initiatives.”

“The call for unity and cooperation among stakeholders and petitioners was reiterated, emphasizing the need to work collaboratively with the current NDDC leadership to achieve the vision and hope renewal agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Niger Delta region and the support given to the development of the region.”

“We condemn in totality the unfortunate and ill-conceived call for the sack or resignation of Chief Samuel Ogbuku. It beats the imagination of Niger Delta Youth Leaders and people that there are still persons in the region available to be hired and used against their own, even when he has not done any wrong but discharging his legitimate functions as the MD/CEO of NDDC.”

“We thereby use this opportunity to thank Mr. President for the appointment of Chief Samuel Ogbuku led NDDC Executive Management. We heartily congratulate these illustrious sons and hardworking people of our region on their well-deserved appointment into the NDDC board.”

“We hereby call on the Federal Government led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to uphold the truth about these leaders of the region as they are trustworthy, capable and reliable to deliver in their responsibilities in bettering the lots of the Niger Delta people in line with the President’s Renewed Hope agenda. We are calling on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency look into the budget of the NDDC with the view to releasing the fund allocated to it on time, as that is a mere minimal budget that cannot achieve anything meaningful for one year for the oil rich but impoverish and underdevelop the Niger Delta Region.”

“Clearly, this sustained campaign of calumny against the person of Chief Samuel Ogbuku the MD/CEO of NDDC since the inauguration of this government shows that they plan to destabilize the peace and tranquility being enjoyed in our region. The recurring theme in all their campaign efforts is that the MD/CEO of the NDDC is unfit for the office is false and unfounded. Mr. President Sir, just recently on 21st of April, 2024 a duly convened body of opinion leaders and youth groups from the Niger Delta Region met and physically went through to ascertain these allegations and found out that they were mostly unfounded or the conclusions unjustified.”

“The endorsement by the Southern Youth Foundation of Nigeria and Opinion Leaders underscores a unified voice in support of continuity, efficiency, and progress within the NDDC, heralding a renewed sense of optimism for the region’s development trajectory under Chief Samuel Ogbuku’s leadership.”

“It is a shame at this point in time, to still have people condemning the works of Chief Samuel Ogbuku. True Niger Delta sons and daughters should be happy that the NDDC MD has given hope to Niger Delta youths through the holistic opportunity projects of engagement (HOPE) meant to identify interest of youths and people, we would have been very pleased to support them in their campaigns if they were contending that the HOPE project number of youths registered were not enough and should be increased to 1 million.  Sir, within the contours of the allegations by the so called petitioners, they have called on your Excellency to remove a man who has performed creditably forgetting that you are a man of justice.”

“This press media briefing is aimed at imploring the general public and relevant agencies of government to heed the counsel of wisdom and allow justice to reign in the Niger Delta and indeed of our dear nation, Nigeria by ignoring and disregarding the call for the removal of the MD Chief Samuel Ogbuku or dissolution of the board of the NDDC.”