Mother of All Protests: No Going Back On Mass Action Against Ogbuku, Ebie Scheduled To Commence On 26TH FEBRUARY, 2025

 

By Wilson Macaulay 

The Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Organizations (CNDCSOs), in collaboration with the Niger Delta Ex-agitators' Forum (NDEF), has reaffirmed its commitment to proceed with the planned mass protest against the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The protest, tagged The Mother of All Protest, is scheduled to commence on February 26, 2025, and will be held simultaneously in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and across the Niger Delta states.

The Coalition Group in their Press statement signed by Barr,.Prince Nelson Gomeromo. National Coordinator Progressive Alliance For Nigerians (PAN), Comr. Jackson Agbor ,

Chairman Ijaw Youth Leaders of Thought (IYLT) ,Comr. Birinumughan Jesse, Aka Gen 90,National Coordinator, Niger Delta Defence Force (NDDF) , Comr. Mike Owotorufa, Chairman, Niger Delta People's Union for Coastal Communities Development (NDPUCCD), Cordinator, Niger Delta For Progressive Change (NDPC),Comr. John Itunu Akiri - President, Niger Delta Democratic Right Organisation (NDDRO) and Comr. Mike Owotorufa, Chairman, Niger Delta People's Union for Coastal Communities Development (NDPUCCD) made available to Vanguard Newspaper reads in part:

 The Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Organizations (CNDCSOs), in collaboration with the Niger Delta Ex-agitators' Forum (NDEF), here by outlined several critical issues prompting the protest as follow:

1. Expiration of Tenure of the NDDC Managing Director

The tenure of Mr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, has long expired. His continued stay in office is deemed illegal and contrary to Section 3 of the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment Act) 2000. The Protesters are demanding for his immediate removal and replacement with a qualified candidate from Delta State, in line with the Act.

2. Non-Statutory Appointment of the Chairman of the NDDC Board

The appointment of Mr. Chiedu Ebie as Chairman of the NDDC Board has been condemned as a blatant violation of the Act. The coalition argued that Ebie, who hails from Agbor-Alidinma in Ika South LGA, Delta State, is ineligible for the position as his locality is not an oil-producing area. They insisted on his immediate removal and the appointment of a qualified candidate from a legible oil-producing state.

3. Allegations of Monumental Corruption and Incompetence

The coalition described Ogbuku’s tenure as the worse in the history of NDDC, citing his alleged fraudulent Niger Delta Youth Internship Programme. They challenged him to publish the list of trained youths, asserting that the program is a scheme to siphon funds rather than to  benefit the region’s youths. 

Not done with the barrage of attacks  the Coalition Group also accused 

Ogbuku  of using resources made available for the development of Niger Delta to bribe ethnic groups into passing votes of confidence on him. The statement claimed  that Ogbuku is using public funds to push a personal governorship ambition in Bayelsa State.

4. Unequal Distribution of Contracts and Projects

The coalition in strong  terms alleged  that contracts and projects under Ogbuku’s leadership have been disproportionately awarded to Bayelsa State, his home state, at the expense of other Niger Delta states. They claimed that no significant projects have been commissioned in the other eight states under his administration.

5. Unfair Scholarship Allocations

The NDDC scholarship program under Ogbuku’s leadership is alleged to have been manipulated to benefit political allies rather than equitably serving all the nine member states. The coalition demanded a fair redistribution of scholarship slots for equity and peace to reign.

6. Secret Employment Practices

The coalition accused Ogbuku of secretly employing individuals, with over 85% of new personnel hired  reportedly from his hometown of Ogbia. These recruitments, they claimed were never advertised in national dailies, which is a clear violation of the principle of fair employment.

Planned Protest Actions

The coalition on the  strength of what they called valid fundamental reasons  vowed not to relent until their demands are met. Details of the planned protest will involve shutting down major locations, including:

The East-West  Road

The NDDC Headquarters in Port Harcourt. 

The National Assembly Complex in Abuja. 

Protesters plan to remain at these locations until their grievances are addressed.

Call for Government Intervention

The coalition has also issued a stern warning to Engr. Abubakar Momoh, the Minister for Regional Development, urging him to focus on addressing Niger Delta’s developmental challenges rather than meddling in legal issues beyond his jurisdiction. 

Conclusion 

As the countdown to February 26 continues, the Niger Delta region  need to brace up for what has been termed The Mother of All Protests. With tensions running high and demands intensifying, the coming days are expected to test the resolve of the NDDC leadership and the federal government. Whether this protest will force the much-needed changes to be actualized in the commission remains to be seen.