Former agitators and key stakeholders from the Niger Delta region have urged regional leaders and communities to support the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, warning that ongoing attempts to undermine his leadership could set the region back.
The call came during an emergency meeting held over the weekend in Port Harcourt, where participants condemned what they described as a coordinated campaign aimed at discrediting the NDDC boss.
Nature Dumale Kiegha, Pioneer National Secretary of the First Phase Ex-Agitators and Spokesman for the Critical Ex-Agitators Stakeholders Coalition in the Niger Delta (CESCND), emphasised the need for unity, stressing that “a house divided against itself can never stand.”
Kiegha highlighted that Dr. Ogbuku is the only NDDC MD in the commission’s history to implement a structured needs assessment process before executing projects, a move he said ensures that initiatives directly benefit grassroots communities.
He pointed to the “Light Up Niger Delta” project as a hallmark of Ogbuku’s tenure, which has enhanced electricity access in rural areas, curbed cultism, reduced kidnapping, and bolstered community development.
He said, “We cannot continue the habit of tearing each other down. The criticism directed at Dr. Ogbuku is unjustified.
”Traditional rulers, political leaders, and other stakeholders must rally behind him to ensure that meaningful development continues in the Niger Delta.”
Kiegha also noted that under Ogbuku’s leadership, the NDDC has improved operational efficiency, with projects delivered on schedule and resources managed effectively.
He cited that in the third quarter of 2024 alone, the commission completed 311 projects across the nine states, covering roads, bridges, renewable energy, housing, water supply, and electricity.
Other initiatives under Ogbuku include Project Hope, which engages youths in productive ventures, the reactivation and expansion of the commission’s scholarship scheme, and a large-scale agricultural programme aimed at positioning the Niger Delta as a national food hub.
Kiegha also highlighted that almost every state now has a functional NDDC office, improving the commission’s reach and impact.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to continue supporting Dr. Ogbuku, urging the federal government to disregard attempts by mischief-makers seeking to divide the region for selfish interests.
“Dr. Ogbuku has remained focused despite unprovoked attacks. It is time for all stakeholders to stand by him, because when the Niger Delta is united, we achieve greater results,” Kiegha added.
