From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A group, South-South Integrity Group for Good Governance has defended the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku over corruption allegations levelled against him.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Delta State, Chief Michael Johnny had written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu calling for a probe of the award of contracts by the NDDC under Ogbuku
However, the coordinator of the integrity group, Comrade Alex Nathan, noted that the NDDC management under the leadership of Ogbuku had been the best since its establishment.
Nathan in a press statement affirmed that Ogbuku had been following due process concerning contracts and was also operating an open-door policy in his engagements with stakeholders and communities across the region.
“It is preposterous, mischievous, and saddening to lay such baseless accusations on Chief (Dr) Samuel Ogbuku.
“His impeccable technocratic qualities made President Bola Tinubu to appoint him as MD/CEO of NDDC, and he has so far been living up to expectations.
“From his Operation Light Up Niger Delta initiative to the construction of roads and bridges and several empowerment programmes, he has set the region on the path of transformation and prosperity.”
Also in a press statement, the former member of the House of Representatives (Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency), Hon Israel Sunny-Goli has called on President Tinubu to disregard the letter written by the APC chieftain.
According to Sunny-Goli, the consensus in the Niger Delta region was that with pragmatic leadership, NDDC under Ogbuku had changed the narrative of development in the Niger Delta region.
“For the first time, the people of the Niger Delta region are feeling the impact of the interventionist agency through the people-centreed initiatives, programmes, and policies.
“We have never had it this good as a people. There is now a sense of belonging for every stakeholder through the open-door policy of the Ogbuku-led NDDC. The NDDC under Ogbuku is deliberate in facilitating the rapid sustainable development of the Niger Delta region and has shown unwavering commitment in this regard.”