In Delta, the nomination of Mr. Ebie as the chairman of the NDDC board was received with shock by members of the APC.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River, Rivers, and Delta states have expressed shock over the appointment of members of the management team for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu appointed board members and a management team for the commission.
According to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, Chiedu Ebie (Delta) was appointed the chairman of the board, while Samuel Ogbuku (Bayelsa) is the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO).
Other executive directors of the management team are Boma Iyaye (Rivers) for finance and admin, Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom) for projects, and Ifedayo Abegunde (Ondo) for corporate services.
State representatives include Dimaro Denyanbofa (Bayelsa), Abasi Ndikan Nkono (Akwa Ibom),
Monday Igbuya (Delta) Tony Okocha (Rivers), Patrick Aisowieren (Edo), Kyrian Uchegbu (Imo)
Victor Kolade Akinjo (Ondo), Dimgba Eruba (Abia), and Asu Oku Okang (Cross River).
Zonal representatives include Nick Wende (north-central), Namdas Abdulrazak (north-east), and Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir (north-west).
However, the nominations have not gone down well with some members of the APC.
Many of them have been left wondering why Tinubu would ignore his own party members and nominate known adversaries of APC for appointments.
According to them, the action of the president is a slap on their faces and efforts to grow the APC within their respective states.
In Delta, the nomination of Mr. Ebie as the chairman of the NDDC board was received with shock by members of the APC.
According to them, Ebie is a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party and campaigned for Atiku Abubakar during the last presidential election in Delta.
Promise Ezekiel, a member of the APC from Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, said he was disappointed by Ebie’s nomination, stating that the same fought against the party in the area but has now been rewarded with such a position.
“What President Tinubu is telling us is that there is no need for the APC in Delta, and we will follow him. We fought against all manner of threats and intimidation to vote for the APC in the last election but see what the president has done? Is this how a leader should behave towards his members?” he asked.
Akinjo’s membership of the NDDC board did not go down well with members of the APC in Ondo State, who expressed shock over his nomination, saying the former Reps member for Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, is a prominent member of the PDP and worked against the party at the last general elections.
A member of the APC in Ilaje Local Government Area, Benjamin Ikukuenyin, said President Tinubu’s action is a blow to those who fought Akinjo to a standstill during this year’s National Assembly election and stopped him from seeking a third term in the House of Representatives.
He lamented further that the president’s nomination has rubbished the gallant efforts of APC members in the Ilaje axis, who have consistently defended the party at the risk of their lives.
Said he: “So of what value is our support and membership of APC if the president can just wake and nominate a total stranger to the party? Where was Akinjo when we were fighting for the president to win an election in Ondo State? This nomination is shameful to say the list, and we shall fight it with all our will.”
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In Cross River State, there was a protest by members of the party over the nomination of Okang.
According to Emmanuel Inyang, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of APC in Cross River, seeing the name of “Mr Asu Oku Okang, a diehard PDP member, a known persecutor of our party, an enemy of APC, unrepentant political opponent of our party who in the last 2023 general elections destroyed our members properties, fought them, injured and almost killed our members in Etung local government area of Cross River, to now surreptitiously find his name in the list of Grade A (NDDC) board which is meant to reward loyal members of our party who sacrificed their resources, energy and time to ensure the victory of our party and all our candidates including our amiable President will not only kill the enthusiasm of our members but it will torpedo our party.
“The APC, Cross River State chapter in the strongest terms rejects, disowns, and dissociates itself from the said list.”
The nomination of Iyaye as the Executive Director, Finance and Administration received both condemnation and remonstration from members of the APC in Rivers State. They wondered why President Tinubu would abandon his party members and patronise those who never campaigned for nor supported his presidential ambition.
According to Sokari John, it is disheartening and regrettable that the president could give all appointments due to the state so far to members of the PDP, while his own party members wallow in regrets.
He noted that President Tinubu was laying a very dangerous precedence that will haunt the APC for a long time to come, adding that party members fought with blood, death and sweat to make the party stay alive in Rivers State.
Another party member, Chinedu Ahunanya, said he regretted ever supporting the APC at the general elections, stating that several members of the party were threatened and injured for daring to preach the gospel of the APC.
“I have always had enormous respect for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but I must say that I am terribly disappointed with his handling of APC in Rivers State.
“Where were these people when we laid down our lives for the APC to thrive in Rivers State? The people being appointed today never say anything good in the party. Is this how a leader should behave? What moral right will have to talk to us again? I am indeed disappointed with his style of politics,” Ahunanya said.