Community leaders in Ukwa, the only oil producing area in Abia State, have decried what they described as the continued sidelining of the people of the area in making inputs in the appointment of persons into the Board of the Niger Development Commission, (NDDC) by the federal government.
This is even as they have attributed the same as the major reason for the lack-luster performance of the Commission in the Niger-Delta area.
They said it was evident that the major factor responsible for the abysmal performance of the interventionist agency was because individuals from outside the oil- producing area had always impressed it on the authorities to appoint their candidates into the board of the NDDC.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, Chief Chukwumeka Nwamuo, said it was unfortunate that various governments had not made proper and diligent consultations with the people, whose land have been degraded as a result of oil exploration and exploitation, whenever appointments into the body were made.