NDDC: Delta Ijaw APC Condemns Appointment Of Udengs Eradiri As SA Youth To Sole Administrator, Gives Reasons

-Say It’s A Deliberate Act To Ridicule, Weaken APC Structure In Niger Delta
-Give One Week Ultimatum To Replace Him
-Fault Appointment Of Sole Administrator
By Daniel Dafe
A group under the aegis of Delta Ijaw APC has condemned the appointment of Udengs Eradiri as SA Youth to the Sole Administrator, NDDC, Effiong Okon Akwa, saying he is a core PDP man.”

In a statement signed by
Comrade Preye Tambou,
Mr. Prince Benafa and
Mr. Cyril Suokumoh and made available to Oasis Magazine (OM), the group called for Udengs immediate sack and the disbandment of what they described as the “Illegal Akwa NDDC Sole Administrator.”

The statement reads in part: “An emergency meeting called by we the aggrieved members of Delta Ijaws APC that held on Sunday 10th January 2021 at ELIKO Hotel, Delta State, dwelt on the issue of a purported appointment of one core opposition, a “PDP Main Man” Udengs Eradiri as SA Youth to Sole Administrator of NDDC, Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa.

“The Ijaws of Delta APC extraction found such appointment of non-party member, a core PDP man for that matter, by Sen Godswill Akpabio the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa the Sole Administrator NDDC as very grievous, provocative and a deliberate attempt to insult the sensibility of Niger Delta APC faithful especially the capacity of APC Ijaw youths who have been sacrificing tirelessly for the party; it’s a deliberate act to ridicule and weaken the resolve of members of the APC faithful in Niger Delta.

“As in, we cannot give what belongs to children to dogs. We cannot empower our opponent to defeat us or give them upper hand in future elections.

“If the said Udengs want any appointment, he should look for it in his party PDP or the right thing to do is to immediately defect from PDP to APC, though we will not take him serious even if but still reject him until he has stayed for three months, proven himself loyal and shows commitment to the party norms and values.”

According to the statement, Udengs must either defect to the APC or be removed from the position, adding “he can’t be in one political party and have appointment in another; he can’t serve two masters at once.”

Speaking further, the group said APC has thousands of capable hands to man the SA Youth on NDDC in Delta Ijaw APC.

“This move against his appointment is not to pull him down or undermine Ijaw interest but to buy him into APC fold as politics is a game of party interest first.

“In the first instance and by law, does the Federal Government have the right to appoint a sole administrator to head the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)? Again, does the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs and Sole Administrator NDDC have the right to appoint a “Core PDP Man” who did not decamp publicly, as SA Youth under APC government? No PDP government will do this whether at the local, state or federal level: this is how the PDP has been treating us, they think of their own first and never considers APC faithful for any appointment.

“Come to think of it, is it the PDP Youth that they appoint as SA youth that will dictate for APC youth to comply? This is an attempt to create fights between the two party youths because if the APC youth refused to listen or take directive from the PDP youth, this could lead to tension, public chaos and even death because the PDP youth will want to bring in his own to fight for him which is bound to happen on this SA youth appointment matter; its already happening if you are following social media updates,” the statement added.

Members of the said group rejected in strong terms the appointment, and gave the the party one week to sack the PDP youth or else they will mobilize a massive protest to their door steps.

Continuing they said that “the imposition of Effiong Okon Akwa as NDDC Sole Administrator is an illegality of the highest order,” as they urged the APC-led Federal Government to as a matter urgency dissolve the “illegal Sole Administrator NDDC and constitute the substantive board and management in line with the enabling law governing the commission for the itch-free running of the commission towards the development of the Niger Delta.

“If the unconstitutional and illegal Sole Administrator NDDC is not disbanded in the next one week, we will seek every legal means to acquire justice,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, they warned every party leader at the federal and state levels who are bent on empowering and giving out their opportunities to the opposition party members to wrestle with them in the scheme of things and for the sake of party interest to stop such wicked act, saying that they will no longer tolerate such from any.