The Youth President of Udu kingdom, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, Comrade Emmanuel Esiefarienrhe has stated that Olorogun Bernard Okumagba who was appointed, screened and confirmed as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission in November 2019 is an Udu son.

His mother Chief (Mrs) Dorcas Owhofaraye Okumagba is from Udu Kingdom in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Addressing newsmen at Otor-Udu, headquarter of Udu LGA in an enlarged meeting of the 32 communities of Udu Kingdom on Sunday 13th June, 2021 on the issue of the inauguration of the Board of NDDC, Comrade Esiefarienrhe maintained that the Udu kingdom where Olorogun Bernard Okumagba hails from maternally is a major Oil and Gas producing Local Government. Udu is host to OML 34 , 65 and the Otorogun Gas plant, the biggest Gas plant in the whole of west Africa. The Oil and Gas Facilities are managed by Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC.

“Udu has been contributing hugely to the economy of this country without anything to show for it. Our Roads are in a bad state, no infrastructural amenities. Presently the construction of the 3rd phase of the Mega gas plant in Udu land is on-going. We have not at any time disrupted or shut down their activities despite the marginalization we have experienced.

No Udu son has been appointed into the NDDC Board since its establishment in the year 2000 to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the deprived oil and Gas producing Communities of the Niger Delta people,” he said.

Going further, he said, “The Late Senator Fred Aghogho Brume who hails from Udu kingdom contributed immensely towards the establishment of the NDDC yet, no Udu indigene has ever been appointed into the NDDC Board.”

“When president Muhammadu Buhari eventually nominated our son Olorogun Bernard Okumagba as Managing Director, MD of the Board, we did thank President Buhari and the National Assembly members for their speedy action and subsequent confirmation of the Board Members now awaiting swearing-in by President Buhari,” he continued.

“We state here categorically that anyone from the Niger Delta region who goes against the generally accepted appointment of Okumagba is an enemy of the Niger Delta region because Olorogun Bernard Okumagba has what it takes to pilot the NDDC towards achieving the Development Goals for our beloved Niger Delta Region.

We therefore call on President Buhari to inaugurate the Board, an action that has been delayed for a while now.

Olorogun Bernard Okumagba is maternally from Udu Kingdom in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State and we are an Oil Producing Local Government Area. We urge Mr President to inaugurate the NDDC Board already screened and confirmed by the Nigerian Senate since November 2019″ he concluded. *Credit: Vanguard