A rights group, Niger Delta Movement for Peace and Justice (NDMPJ), has raised the alarm over plots by some groups in the Niger Delta to present a fresh list of nominees for the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

 

In a statement on Wednesday in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital, the National Coordinator of NDMPJ, Etifit Nkereuwem called on President Muhammadu Buhari to go ahead to inaugurate the 15 nominees already confirmed by the National Assembly in November 2019.

Nkereuwem warned that failure to inaugurate the already confirmed nominees would worsen the controversy trailing the inauguration of the NDDC governing board in the Niger Delta lately.

He further noted that it was even wrong for another list of nominees to be presented for screening and confirmation when the already confirmed nominees were not dissolved.

His words: “Niger Delta Movement for Peace and Justice aligns itself with the people of the Niger Delta to call on Mr President to inaugurate the governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) without further delay”.

“We demand Mr president to demonstrate that he is a true democrat, principled politician and man of proven integrity by going ahead to inaugurate the 15 nominees already screened and confirmed by the Senate in November 2019 for the NDDC governing board.”

 

The National Coordinator of NDMPJ expressed the hope that the Senate would not fall to the temptation of abusing democratic principles.

He acknowledged that failure to inaugurate the already screened nominees in 2019 will create an uneasiness, knowing fully well that if there is any break in transmission during this process again, it simply means those already nominated will still be substituted.

“That should not be a system of governance that should be encouraged by any patriotic citizen, for it is breaking the usual due process for an appointment, which does not tell well of our nation..”