Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) managing director, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, has denied any political contest for now, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a 2027 presidential ambition.
He revealed this on Monday in Asaba, Delta State, during the commission’s 25th anniversary world press briefing, saying the reelection of the president until 2031 is paramount to him now.
According to him, the campaign to re-elect President Tinubu is important because if he loses the 2027 election, it will be challenging for him to contest any election if he needs to vie for any political office.
While appreciating those promoting him for the governorship through posters and campaigns, he urged them to divert the energy they are expending on his promotion to the campaign for President Tinubu’s re-election so that it would be a smooth ride for him.
“On the information going around about my political ambition, the task given us by the President is for us to make sure there is development in the Niger Delta area through the NDDC through human capital development, empowerment, infrastructural development among others.
“The task is enormous that we do not want any distractions for now. We have limited time to meet up with the task before we finish our tenure. If the Niger Delta is developed, if there is peace and security, if youths are engaged and the output from the area is increased, the re election of President Tinubu will be easier.
“We thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding us worthy of the job. We want to do our job with sincerity of purpose, not to betray the confidence bestowed on us. Now everyone has our confidence, and contributions have increased. The federal government, too, has increased its funding of the commission.” We have to do more,” Ogbuku stated.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, who, he said, assured them that they would complete their tenure but that they must give an account of their stewardship.
He attributed the commission’s improved performance to Tinubu’s efforts to ensure stability on the agency’s board since he assumed office.
He also noted that the commission is intentional about ensuring judicious use of its budget to impact lives.
Ogbuku, who emphasised that abandoned projects cannot be tackled in a day, noted that the commission, under his leadership, has been able to address some lingering abandoned projects it inherited from past administrations.
He, however, linked the problem of abandoned projects in the region to the instability of the commission’s board, saying the frequent change of management affected the region for several years and disrupted activities at the commission. He said there was no stability to create the vision at the commission.
