By Onome Oghenetega
The Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM) says it is fully in support of the nomination of Olorogun Bernard Okumagba as the new Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
NDYM also stated that Okumagba and other members of the newly appointed board are eminently qualified and have the capacity to lead the interventionist agency for the betterment of the people of the region.
The Delta State chapter of the apex youth body stated this on Sunday in a statement where it affirmed its support for the appointment of Okumagba who hails from Warri South in Delta South Senatorial District.
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The statement signed by the group’s Delta chairman, Comrade Monoyo Edon and Secretary, Comrade Marc Onovaye described Okumagba appointment as both a reward and responsibility to oil producing areas to be at the core of development of the Niger Delta.
The group which which has members drawn from the five oil producing ethnic groups of Itsekiri, Ijaw, Isoko, Urhobo and Ndokwa, also has chapters in the other eight states of the Niger Delta.
It said that the nomination of Okumagba comes at a time when the people of Delta South District have been yearning for Federal appointment in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, stating that no excuse can be adduced for not littering Delta State with meaningful projects.
“Bernard Okumagba’s nomination from the oil rich Warri South Local Government Area in Delta South has cleared the kerfuffle brewing in Delta State over Federal appointment in the President Muhammdu Buhari’s administration.
“We understand that Delta North has the Central Bank Governor. Delta Central has a minister and now, Delta South has the MD pending National Assembly’s clearance of the new board. With this appointment, it means there is no excuse Delta State should not get her fair slice of developmental dividends from the APC-led Federal Government.”
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The pan Niger Delta group believes that Mr. Okumagba is eminently qualified to hold the position because of his his rich background.
The statement continues, “With his Accounting background and as a former commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Okumagba will natural fit into the shoes of his new portfolio. We welcome his nomination. We urge all Deltans to stand by him and give him every support necessary to perform and represent us well at the NDDC.”
The group also pledges their collaboration with the new MD and board in the areas of capacity building, mobilization and empowerment of youths of the region.
“The NDDC desperate needs capable hands that will steer it to meet the yearnings of the people of the Niger Delta. We are ready (as we have always done) to work with the new MD and board to ensure that they perform creditably well to the expectations of Niger Deltans and President Muhammadu Buhari who names the new board.”
