The people of Ogbia Kingdom in Bayelsa State have expressed their gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reappointing their son, Hu, as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Traditional rulers and community leaders urged an end to protests against Ogbuku’s reappointment, calling for unity and constructive dialogue to drive the development of the Niger Delta.
King Dumaro Charles-Owaba, the Obanobhan of Ogbia Kingdom, and Azibalaguo Seibofa, the Acting National Chairman of Ogbia Brotherhood, acknowledged former President Muhammadu Buhari for initially appointing Ogbuku and commended Tinubu for renewing his tenure.
Seibofa lamented the persistent underdevelopment of Ogbia Kingdom despite its immense contribution to Nigeria’s economy. He highlighted that since the discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri in 1956, the region has supplied vast quantities of oil and gas but has seen little infrastructural advancement. He also decried the environmental devastation caused by oil exploration, including pollution, destruction of wildlife, and loss of aquatic life, with minimal intervention from the Federal Government and oil companies.
The Ogbia leaders emphasized that, despite their crucial role in Nigeria’s oil industry, no indigene from the kingdom has ever been appointed to lead any major government interventionist agency. They cited historical instances of political marginalization, including the removal of Senator Melford Okilo as Rivers State Governor in 1983 and the 2015 electoral defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Addressing the ongoing protests against Ogbuku’s reappointment, Seibofa urged aggrieved groups to embrace dialogue over confrontation and support Ogbuku’s leadership at the NDDC.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace and development, praising President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the governors of the nine NDDC states for their efforts to improve the Niger Delta.
They called on all stakeholders in the Niger Delta to work together in unity for the collective progress of the region.
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