Niger Delta youths under the aegis of the Niger Delta Initiative for Development (NDID) have served the leadership of the National Assembly a three-day ultimatum to lift the embargo on payments in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) placed by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees.
The group threatened to occupy the National Assembly if their demand is not met.
It appealed to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila to set aside the embargo in the interest of the Niger Delta region.
According to the group, the National Assembly should stop fighting the Acting NDDC Board, adding that the current face off between the Management of the Commission and the Lawmakers, has derailed the Commission’s activities at the detriment of the Niger Delta region.
In a statement signed by its President and Secretary, Malachy Chukwuka and Mr Ossai Endurance, the group lambasted the Chairman Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Peter Nwoboshi for engaging in a war of vendetta against Cairo Ojougbo, the Acting NDDC Executive Director Projects for exposing the impunity perpetrated at the Commission with the aid of some of the Lawmakers.
The group advised Nwaoboshi to put away whatever personal grievances he has against Ojougbo and the Interim Committee and allow the Commission to deliver on its mandate of developing the Niger Delta region.
According to the statement, “we are bothered by the stoppage of all payments in NDDC by the National Assembly Committees, both for jobs done. We are appealing to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila to intervene in the overall interest of the Niger Delta region”.
It continued that, “both Houses should hands off and not fight the NDDC Acting Board again because the fight is not good for the Niger Delta region which is grossly underdeveloped.
“The Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC, Senator Peter Nwanbuchi should know that the Niger Delta region is suffering, he should stop fighting his own brother, Cairo Ojugbo, rather let them work together. They should put aside their personal differences and work as they are of one constituency because other Deltans from other constituencies are mocking them.
“Dr Cairo Ojugbo’s position today as the Acting NDDC Executive Director of Project (EDP) was not given to him by anyone from the Niger Delta but by Mr President.and so let Cairo be allowed to do his job on the development agenda of Niger Delta.”