NDDC Interim Board: Izanzan Camp Faults Call For Akpabio’s Sack, Says His Action Is Best For Ijaw Interest
By Ndu Samuel
A Niger Delta based right group, under the aegis of Ijaw Interest Advocates, IIA also known as Izanzan Intellectual Camp, has said it has distanced itself from those calling on the sack of Niger Delta Affairs minister Godswill Akpabio for inaugurating interim board for Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The group has also called on the security agencies to take note of persons and groups dishing out threat messages to the minister for his actions.
The Izanzan camp group made this position known through a press release signed by its National Coordinator Amb. Yerinmene Salaco Jnr. , a copy of which was sent to the Liberator Newspaper today.
The group said that Akpabio’s decision following presidential approval is justifiable, noting that the substantive board already screened by the senate and awaiting inauguration was formed on misplaced priority and in bad blood against the Ijaw ethnic nationality.
They said, ”the interest of Delta Ijaw and Bayelsa is completely undermined, the Ijaws are denied of their right therefore it must not be inaugurated and above all presidency must wait until all legal cases are cleared.”
”Those that are not abreast with activities of the NDDC should understand that the interim is our best interest, it will help us continuously engage the president of the country with more factual reasons why the already screened substantive board must be reviewed by following the stipulated provisions of the NDDC act.”
They maintained that if the government had followed the very stipulations in the NDDC act, the Managing Director should come from Bayelsa State while the Chairman will be from Delta State, ”so why the breached of the act? ” They asked.
The group said ”we are categorically stating that whoever that is coming out to condemn the decision of presidency and Senator Akpabio, knowing fully well that the Ijaw Nation has been robbed, is doing it for his or her selfish interest .
They further queried ”If we may ask those that is calling for the immediate inauguration of the board, are they against the interim board for the general interest of the region?, If yes, where were they when the Delta Ijaw and Bayelsa State is denied of their right in the substantive board? are they comfortable that Delta and Bayelsa State is denied of their respective rights? But why the sudden ranting?. Well posterity will indeed judge everybody actions and inactions.”
They noted that during president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, efforts where made to ”carefully follow the provisions of the act to balance ethnicity interest and that was one of the primary reason that Itsekiri man was appointed into the board followed by Urhobo man after the expiration of the Itsekiri man while Ijaw ought to be next”
The group therefore called on President muhamnadu Buhari to ignore those calling for the sack of Akpabio and also they appealed to the Minister to use the powers within his reach to correct this anomaly as it is perceived to be another form of injustice against the Ijaw Nation.
”In spite of the fact that, we are standing with the interim board, we are highly expecting the members of the board to be very transparent while waiting for the final report of the forensic audit.” They added.
