NDDC over-politicised, lacks clear ideas – Oshiomhole

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has decried what he described as the lack of “clarity of ideas” by the Niger Delta Development Commission in the discharge of its duties.

Oshiomhole also lamented that the commission had been over-politicised in the formation of board members, a challenge which, he said, had affected its operation‎ in bringing rapid development to the region.

The governor, who spoke during a visit to the Chairman of the NDDC, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, other members of the board, including the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of commission, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia, noted that there was a need for the Federal Government to ensure that the fund made available to it was judiciously utilised.

He said, “I also know that the board has been afflicted by critical Nigerian disease namely clarity of ideas; the need to take extra-ordinary measures. ‎One major weakness I have observed in the running of the commission is that it has been over-politicised.

“It was not meant to be a political vehicle. Nigeria has opted for a multiple political democracy and our people from time to time could replace a government and a political party; no party will be too good to govern forever.‎”

On the need to provide major infrastructure in the South-South geo-political zone, Oshiomhole said the condition of the zone would “be effectively serviced with an efficient and effective rail system.”

He, however, assured that the Buhari administration would do its best to ensure that the commission lived up to expectations of the people of the zone.

He also urged the state commissioners on the board to ensure that their contributions in the commission reflected the desires of the people of their respective states.

Earlier, Senator Ewa-Henshaw called for the intervention of the governor to aid in the allocation of funds due to the board, as, according to him, the NDDC had not been funded according to law, since 2000, with over N800 billion unremitted allocation due to it.

He noted that the “vision of the Board is one that can provide a platform and the avenue for integrating and developing the Niger Delta sub-region, through strategic intervention and key infrastructure development in road, rail and education.‎”

“We can create business investment and employment opportunities for our people. We are not unaware of the negative perception of our people. But as a board, we have come determined to change that,” he added.

NDDC over-politicised, lacks clear ideas – Oshiomhole