Tenure of NDDC MD Nsima Ekere Ended November 1 as Group Wants Him Removed

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Thursday, November 16th, 2017

Photo: Nsima Ekere

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The tenure of Nsima Udo Ekere as Managing Director and Chief Executive of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), had elapsed, his appointment letter obtained from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on Thursday, has confirmed.

The appointment letter dated November 1 2016 with Ref. No: SGF.55/S.2/C.3/IV/52, was signed by the sacked former SGF, Babachir David Lawal.

It reads: “I am pleased to inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved your appointment as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), following your confirmation by the Senate on Tuesday October 11 2016 in accordance with Sections 2(2) a and 12 (1) (c) of the NDDC (Establishment) Act 2000.

“The appointment took effect from November 1 2016 and you are to serve out the remainder of the term of office of your predecessor in line with Section 5(2) of the Act.

“Your emoluments and other conditions of service are as provided under the “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) (Amendment) Act 2008.”

“Please accept my congratulations on your appointment.”

The document, has therefore ended the speculations on the allegations that there were plans by the cabals in the Presidency to elongate his tenure and that of the NDDC Board Chairman.

A coalition of pressure groups under the aegis of Eastern Niger Delta Coalition, had in a petition to Buhari dated November 9 2017 entitled: “Protest against the purported extension of the tenure of the present Chairman and Managing Director of NDDC) Board”, said the so-called extension was not only morally wrong, but also does not stand on any legal high ground.

According to them, the cabals in the Presidency have collected $500 million bribe from the current Board of the NDDC to elongate their tenure.

The petition was signed by Alali Bokutengo; Miebaka Harrison Nsan Ebirien and Cordelia Etuk-Udo.

Among those who have received the largesse on behalf of the cabals include the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abaubakar Malami (SAN).

“The so-called extension is not only morally wrong, it does not also stand on any legal high ground. It is insinuated that the said elongation coup was originated through a legal memo by the AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN). This whole exercise is offensive and contrary to the extant/explicit provisions of the relevant sections of the NDDC Act.

The group therefore gave the present leadership of the NDDC board December 5 deadline within which it should be terminated, saying “a stitch in time saves nine.”

The petition reads: “Sir, may we use this medium to register our protest against the purported elongation of the tenure of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egbe (Chairman) and Obong Nsima Ekere (Managing Director) of the NDDC. To say the least, this attempt is criminal, offensive, satanic and an anathema to the peace and development in the Niger Delta region as well as the harmonious co-existence of all the ethnic nationalities spread across in the 9 (nine) oil producing states.

“Our finding reveal that the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and AGF, Abubakar Malami, have collected $500 million as bribe from the current board of the NDDC to elongate their tenure. We are therefore calling on President Muhammdu Buhari to intervene and do the right thing because millions of dollars have been exchanged between the Chief of Staff and some other persons in the Presidency to ensure that this current board’s tenure is extended thereby truncating the rotational arrangement according to Section 4 of the NDDC Act, which provided for the rotation of chairmanship of the board as between “member states”.

The coalition said it had seen a hurriedly released letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dayo Apata denying any tenure elongation for the present governing board, saying the denial was wrong.

The ENDC said, “Sir, please this fraud should not be allowed to stay a day longer because of the consequences it would bequeath on the region.

The peaceful co-existence among tribes and ethnic nationalities would be shaken to its foundation and rather replaced by mistrust and mutual suspicion- an invitation to breakdown of law and order.

“At this point may we humbly ask: Is this elongation plan a kudos to Senator Victor Ndoma Egba and Nsima Ekere for their effective implementation of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master plan? Is it on grounds of high prudent financial management? Is it on their competence or what?

“We actually thought Nsima Ekere should be explaining to the anti-corruption agencies how he renovated just the MD’s office at a whooping N400 million. Or how the present board spent over N65 million on emergency repairs without adherence to the Procurement Act.

“This present board of the NDDC is the most inept, corrupt, divisive, slow and uninspiring. No wonder the board is popularly referred to as “10% board”.

We posit therefore that the present leadership of the NDDC be terminated not later than the 15th day of December, 2017. A stitch in time saves nine.”