Why We Want 2021 NDDC Budget Put On Hold, By Ijaw Group

The messy graft scandal that filtered out of the inner recesses of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a supposed development agency is throwing up bad air in some communities of Nigeria’s oil and gas region.

The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, (MOSIEND) is already pressing for the next year’s budget of the badly damaged commission to be put on hold.

President of the Ijaw group, Kennedy Tonjo-West, says there is no tangible project on ground to account for what was pumped into the vastly undeveloped oil region since 2019.

‘’From the 2019 budget, one cannot trace any project to any community in the Niger Delta where the fund was expended’’, Tonjo-West explains, and pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently constitute a substantive board of persons of impeccable character for the dented Commission.

MOSIEND is also insisting that President Buhari and the National Assembly to stay action on the 2021 NDDC budget, claiming that it was very necessary to enable stakeholders engage NDDC on what are in for communities.

The MOSIEND leader who was speaking in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, while inaugurating members of the National Executive of the group, said they will engage Abuja in many areas, especially on some extant laws that do not protect the interest of the Ijaw ethnic nationality and the entire people of the Niger Delta.

While also noting that the Ijaw Nation is totally against the Water Resources Bill because it is targeted at impoverishing the Ijaws, he pointed out that they are no longer satisfied with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also called on the international community and the Nigerian State to take note that the Ijaws want a referendum.

Continuing, he said the referendum is necessary to know the direction of the Niger Delta people – and that, if the country is to remain as one entity, there is need for a fresh constitution which will give one hundred percent resource ownership to Niger Deltans, as well as justice and fairness to all.

According to him, the Ijaw nation is no longer comfortable with the 13 percent derivation to oil producing communities, and also called on governors of the Niger Delta region and other critical stakeholders to open their doors for engagement with MOSIEND.

He frowned at the recent increase in fuel price, and also assured that MOSIEND will engage the over 40 ethnic nationalities within the Niger Delta region – to begin the process of advancing the liberation of the region.

Members of the National Executive council of MOSIEND are Vice President Thompson Robert Fuoye, Secretary Cotterel Amain, Spokesman for the group, Charles Omusuku, Financial Secretary Amaibi Hornby, and Treasurer, Henry Nabena.

Others include, Tonbra Kasikoro Klioprite, Woman Leader; Barasei Amaigo Brown, Mobilisation Officer; Opukeme Obubor, Director of Operations; Dimieari Pepple, Deputy National Organising Secretary; David Dasembo, Assitant National Secretary; Kelvin Akuna, Ex officio; Prince Oweibi, Ex officio; and Richman Yinbiri, National Director of Cultural Affairs.

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