President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to revert the nomination of a nonindigene of oil-producing community, Charles Ogunmola, as Executive Director, Projects on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to avert looming threat to peace to the Niger Delta region.

The warning was handed down by ex-militants in the Niger Delta region on Sunday in a statement jointly signed by their leaders, Gen Job Omotuwa and Gen Ogailo Ibori, and made available to newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

In the statement, the ex-militants from the oil-producing area urged Presented Buhari to uphold the decision of the Senate which rejected Ogunmola’s nomination and also supported by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu despite the fact that Ogunmola is from Owo, Ondo State.

They noted that they embraced the disarmament programme of government for peace to reign in the Niger Delta zone, warning that if Ogunmola eventually clinched the appointment, there would be crisis in the region.

Commending Akeredolu for his stance against injustice, the ex-millitants described Akeredolu as a dogged fighter who always stood on the side of the truth and justice especially on matter that bordered on national security.

The statement reads inter alia: “Though, Ondo State is long overdue for the position of the Managing Director (MD) of the Commission, but have secured the Executive Director, Project (EDP) slot in the newly constituted board by Mr President.

“We have been disarmed since 2017 and we remain calm and law-abiding and do not want anything that will affect the peace of the Niger Delta Area of Ondo State.

“We stand to resist any attempt by any individual or government officials to be working through the back door to deny us our due and give same to Mr Charles Ogunmola from Owo local government, a non oil-producing local government area of the State, contrary to the dictates of the NDDC Act, 2000

“Considering the fact that the state yearly budget is weakened by poor monthly allocation from the Federation Account, the position of EDP for Ondo State on the Board will go a long way in addressing the developmental deficiency in the area and also enhance the lives of our people positively.”

Nevertheless, the ex-militants appealed to the Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan to strictly adhered to the dictates of the Act that established the NDDC in screening and confirmation of the Commission’s Board members .

In the letter, they charged President Buhari to “kindly reverse the Ogunmola nomination and replace it with an indigene from the oil-producing area and forward the name to the Senate for confirmation.” (Sunday Independent)

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