MOSIEND Flays Planned Protest Against NDDC
4 min read
Edith CHUKU
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta MOSIEND, has vehemently condemned the alleged planned protest by some groups in the region against the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.
MOSIEND urged Mr. Theophilus Elaye led factional Ijaw Youth Council IYC, the Ex-Agitators Forum and Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Organizations CNDCSO, to eschew the idea of protest and adopt dialogue.
In a release on Tuesday, the foremost Niger Delta mass mobilization organisation described the reasons given by the groups for the alleged protest against NDDC as unfortunate and unwarranted.
MOSIEND in the statement recalled that the Niger Delta groups had “issued a notice of protest to President Bola Tinubu against the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC and its leadership over alleged administrative lapses and legal breaches; citing the appointment of Chiedu Ebie as chairman of the NDDC.
“The notice, as published by some national dailies and other social media platforms, was signed on one hand by Comrade Elaye Theophilus, one Comrade Jesse Birinumughan said to be the leader of the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators’ Forum, one Comrade Jackson Agbor who claims to be chairman of the Ijaw Youth Leaders of Thoughts (IYLT) and other unnamed ex-militant leader.
“According to media reports, they also forwarded the letter to heads of various security agencies and called on stakeholders to avail themselves on Thursday, November 14 and 25 for the protest, but MOSIEND, in a statement signed by its national secretary, Comrade Winston Cotterel Amain, and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, caution those behind the notice to desist as they are for running down Niger Delta leaders at will.”
The release quoted Amain to have noted that, “there is no justification for the action taken by the said groups who are using the names of organizations which do not belong to them to run down the NDDC and its leadership.
“Yes, you may want to look at it from the angle that they needed an audience and they have not been talked to, but don’t also forget that there are other critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta who have been playing key roles in the development of the region who have also not been given an audience, and they did not resort to blackmail or protest, etc.
“There are countless people who have not been seen, who have not been talked to, but they will never do this rubbish to seek attention. Many stakeholders are quick to rubbish Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and the leadership of the NDDC the moment they call Ogbuku to give them appointments and contracts and the man does not respond to them.”
It added that, “in the eyes of MOSIEND and other leaders and stakeholders of Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta, the acts by the groups are nothing but a smear campaign of calumny, as well as unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations to run the hard earned reputation of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and Chiedu Ebie down -just like they do to other eminent sons and daughters of the region.
“The appointment of Chiedu Ebie is in perfect consonance with the NDDC Act; the act stated it succinctly clear that the Chairman can be appointed from an oil producing area which qualifies him. Recall that there have been successive chairmen who were not from oil producing areas – the likes of Chief Ugochukwu Oyema, Sen. Henshaw, Sen. Victor Edoma Egba and late Chief Sam Edem.
“As Niger Deltans, we are very disturbed by these unnecessary distractions because this is the first time we are witnessing a team1 so focused, passionate, sincere and committed to the development of the Niger Delta. It is sad because some people feel that the only way they can survive from the system is through endless blackmails, malignity and finding faults to ask for their removal.”
The general uninformed mindset of our people is that going to the press to call for sack of those in power is the only way to get the attention of the persons concerned – unmindful of the destruction they could be doing to the reputation of the individuals by that singular act.
“We understand that the planned protest against NDDC board is for self-seeking and pecuniary gains, and MOSIEND being the leading mass mobilization group in the Niger Delta region urges the youths to desist from this pull-him-down syndrome to seek attention.”
Further, MOSIEND stated that, “everybody knows that this board stands out when you talk of open-door policies and engagement -all thanks to Mr. President for assembling a workaholic team who are also humble and people oriented.
“We will also seize this medium to call on the Managing Director/CEO to caution his aides because their actions are largely responsible for most of the embarrassment coming his way. Most of the aides need training on how to address issues for their principals, else, they will mar their boss’ achievements.
“This habitual habit of dragging down people just to seek their attention is one taking too far and requires caution – the North also has similar commissions but you hardly find behaviours like this from their people – it is only from the Niger Delta and Ijaw extraction that you hear of such.”
