NDDC: Monarchs Accuse Federal Govt Of Neglect

Traditional rulers of oil producing communities of Niger Delta have accused the federal government of ignoring traditional rulers in the region on issues concerning the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

It however said despite the development, traditional rulers of oil producing communities will never stop giving their support to the NDDC to enhance partnership for sustainable development in the delta region.

The group’s first deputy national chairman, Oba Obafemi Ogbaro, made the remarks yesterday while addressing journalists at the association’s secretariat in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Ogbaro said NDDC  is the brain-child of the association of traditional rulers of oil producing communities of Nigeria. 

TROMPCON has been fundamental to the growth of the NDDC particularly in ensuring and enforcing peace accords.

“The royal fathers, in playing these roles as facilitators, custodians, etc, are scarcely recognized and appreciated but we continue to do our best because it is an abomination to throw away the child with the bath water.

“We as royal father, have been watching most issues with utter dismay as core issues are politicised. Evidently, a government in power at the federal dictates the tenets of the Commission but with little or no recourse to the traditional rulers’ participation.

“TROMPCON at this juncture, would want to clearly state as always that royal fathers would never seize giving the usual support to enhance partnership for sustainable development as we remain the doors that see all sides of the environment, and further amplify that the NDDC being our baby will never be left to die.”

The traditional rulers, however decried the incessant dissolution of boards of the NDDC, saying that since the establishment of the commission in 2000, not more than two boards have successfully served out their four-year term.

Ogbaro said, “This action is greeted with joy because the inherent advantages cannot be over emphasized. As much as we nod our heads in this direction for especially dissolving the NDDC board and the management to stay for continuity of discharge of core mandate for which the NDDC was created. A welcome development.

“We would however bare our minds on the incessant of dissolution of the NDDC board. From inception only very few, perhaps not more than two boards have survived their four-year tenures as prescribed by law.

“This trend has caused instability, fear of the unknown, accentuation of corruption instead of curbing it. Not only does it not encourage completion of projects but allows improper execution of jobs and other associated social vices, it is condemnable.”