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NDDC Chairmanship: whose interest? By
The issue of environmental degradation with its attendant socio-economic implications is an established occurrence in the Niger-Delta region. What however, remains to be properly addressed is how best the sufferings and agony of the teeming indigenes of the Delta can be ameliorated. During General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime, the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) was established for the singular purpose of assisting the government in the development of the oil producing areas. Whether OMPADEC succeeded or failed in carrying out the above responsibility should be left for history students. Except that if it had succeeded, the present agitations and restiveness as a result of neglect and abandonment by oil producing communities would not have been as vitriolic as they are. This, it would appear, informs the birth of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The NDDC having been born after more than the normal nine months pregnancy period, no thanks to the Executive/Legislature disagreements, one would expect that every well-meaning indigene of the Niger-Delta region would pray for the survival of this new-born baby; for it to succeed where OMPADEC failed and eventually achieve purpose. One would also expect that we would highlight those child-killer diseases that killed OMPADEC and consequently immunise this newborn NNDC against them. President Olusegun Obasanjo in his commitment to transparency, accountability, excellence and bequeathing of a lasting developmental legacy to the Niger-Delta region, assembled a team majority of Nigerians feel is competent enough to deliver the goods. Men of impeccable integrity and honour, professionals and technocrats of high repute who have been tried, tested and certified capable. One of such men is in the person of Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, a one time editor of the Daily Times and Financial Times. An economist of global acclaim and integrity. The President in his wisdom nominated him to be the Chairman of the NDDC by virtue of his State of Origin which is Abia State. For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu is that same one who successfully ran President Olusegun Obasanjo’s political campaign from the primaries through the main elections. Yes, the same one who visited every nook and cranny of Nigeria to launch the National Rebirth and Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmes through the National Orientation Agency. (NOA) That detribalised, Abia man who is married to an Itshekiri woman from an oil producing community in Delta State. Curiously, however, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu’s intimidating Curriculum Vitae as a fit and proper person to be Chairman of the NDDC notwithstanding, his nomination has been rejected by the Senate on two occasions. From newspaper reports, the rejection of his nomination is predicated on the fact that his Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State is not an oil producing area. Of all the people (both the "action" ones and the "wordy") who have been threatening earthquake and holocaust in Abia if Chief Ugochukwu’s nomination is ratified, none of them has indicted him of incompetence, dishonesty and or irresponsibility. One would have thought that our main concern would have been the ability to perform and also to retain the President’s confidence. Now to our question, if we are all agreed that Chief Onyema Ugochukwu is very eminently qualified to successfully carry out the assignment given to him by President Obasanjo, why do we have to rubbish the President’s efforts at genuinely redressing the wrongs against the Niger-Delta by appointing somebody he can trust, with whom he already has a smooth working relationship? Is there any point sacrificing meritocracy at the altar of the accident of place of birth? The history of appointments in Nigeria does not even support their position. For instance, Messrs Marinho, Bayero, Amu, Adams and Obaseki were/are all past/present Group Managing Directors of NNPC, none of them comes from an oil producing community; including Alhaji Rilwanu Lukeman, the Secretary-General of OPEC and also the Special Adviser to the President on petroleum. Messrs Albert Horsefall and Eric Opia headed OMPADEC at various times; did their oil-producing-community-qualification stop OMPADEC from collapsing? One is therefore, left with no other conclusion than that there is more to it than meets the eyes. Some people have made financial calculations based on their favoured candidates receiving Mr. President’s nomination. It is now a case of since I could not get it you will also not get it. Do we want just anybody, so long as he is from Ukwa West?, that will definitely be counter productive. May the distinguished Senators be reminded that it will be a colossal disservice to the Niger-Delta region nay, Nigeria, if honourable men allow parochial, mercantilist and very selfish interests deprive us of Chief Onyema Ugochukwu’s service as the Chairman of the NDDC. It may interest you to note that the Abia State House of Assembly had long passed a motion, moved by a member from Ukwa, supporting Chief Onyema Ugochukwu’s nomination. That motion has not been vacated, it is still subsisting. The South-Eastern Caucus in the National Assembly and the Ohaneze have both met and endorsed the nomination of Chief Ugochukwu. If all these bodies who are closer to the Abia indigenes than the "action four" have endorsed Chief Ugochukwu’s nomination, one can safely say that those four do not have our interest at heart in their opposition to Chief Ugochukwu’s nomination. We are therefore, pleading with you to set sailing the ship carrying all the developmental cargoes for the Niger-Delta, by ratifying the nomination of Chief Onyema Ugochukwu on his next representation. Barrister Chiabu Onuobia is a Port Harcourt based legal practitioner.
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