Opposition has already mounted against President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of his Special Adviser on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, as the substantive Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.
While some Niger Delta stakeholders welcomed the appointment, others urged the Senate not to confirm her.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read President Buhari’s letter containing a request for her confirmation at plenary on Wednesday.
The President also nominated others as members of the Board, including Chief Samuel Ibukun as Managing Director for a term of two years to complete the term of his predecessor, who hails from Bayelsa State.
The nominees are Onochie (Delta) as Chairman, Dr. Ibukun as Managing Director, Dimgba Erugba (Abia representative), Dr. Ene Willcox Wills (Akwa Ibom), former Edo State Deputy Governor Pius Odudu, Gbenga Edema (Ondo), Elder Dimaroe Daniya Bofa (Bayelsa representative), Orok Duke (Cross River) and Anthony Ekene (Imo).
Others are Onyekachi Dimkpa (Rivers), Alhaji Mohammed Kabiru Abubakar (Zonal Representative, Nasarawa), Prof Tallen Mamman (SAN) (Northeast Representative, Adamawa), Alhaji Sadiq Sami Sule (Kebbi State, Northwest Zonal Representative), Maj. Gen. Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (Rtd) (Executive Director of Finance) and Charles Ogunmola (Executive Director Project, Southwest).
“I hereby present the under-listed 15 names of nominees as Chairman and members of the NDDC for confirmation by the Senate,” the President wrote.
But soon after the list was read, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, noted that there is no Delta State representative on the proposed board in accordance with the NDDC Act, which stipulates that each State of the NDDC must have a representative.
He urged the Executive to correct the anomaly, arguing that Onochie represents the entire South-south and not Delta State in particular regardless that she is from there.
Lawan promised that he would ensure that the Act is adhered to.
Senator George Sekibo (Rivers East), pointed out that the Senate had in 2019 screened and confirmed nominees for the NDDC board.
He wondered why a repeat confirmation was needed, which he said was against the Senate’s Standing Orders.
Lawan said the former list could not sail through following the crisis that rocked the NDDC.
Meanwhile, the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) rejected Onochie’s appointment, describing it as “flawed and provocative”.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Abel Oshevire, said her appointment is flawed, arguing that she does not hail from an oil-producing community.
According to him, Onochie is a stranger who cannot appreciate the pains of environmental degradation that several persons in the creeks suffer.
He said: “Her appointment is wrong. She is not from an oil-producing community.
“This was the same woman rejected by Nigerians as INEC national commissioner. If she was rejected then, what now qualifies her for this job?
“To us in the UPU, it is a wrong appointment. It is a provocative and deliberate attempt to put salt on a festering wound. This appointment does not sit well with us.
“The Niger Delta region will not accept this appointment because she is not from an oil-producing community. She is unqualified for the position.”
Also, a non-governmental organisation, Policy Alert, urged President Buhari to reverse Mrs Onochie’s appointment.
Its Director, Mr. Tijah Bolton-Akpan, said since her constituency, Delta, had earlier rejected her nomination, there was no moral justification for her reappointment.
“The task of leading the Niger Delta out of the current phase of underdevelopment is an urgent one, which should not be subjected to over-politicisation.
“This is about legitimacy, and as we know, she cannot function in that position effectively if she does not have the support of her own constituency,” Bolton-Akpan said.
A pressure group, the Ijaw Interest Advocate (IIA), also known as Izanzan Intellectual Camp, commended the President for constituting the board but rejected Onochie.
“To be fair, it is the turn of the Delta Ijaws to produce the board chairman. From tomorrow (Thursday) we will resist it. We will never take it. That is the position of the Izanzan camp. That appointment has to be withdrawn.
“We have credible Ijaw sons and daughters that fit that position. To us it’s another calculative attempt to relegate the Delta Ijaws to the background and take the sensibilities of the Ijaw people for granted,” Arerebo said.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) would not be drawn on the propriety of Onochie’s appointment.
Its spokesman, Ken Robinson, said: “We have been demanding the constitution of a substantive board for the NDDC.
“Though it is coming late, we commend the effort that at last, the presidency is responding and doing what is right.
“It shouldn’t have taken this long. All the excuses and pretences were unnecessary and unacceptable.
“Concerning the person who has been nominated as board chairman, Lauretta is from the Niger Delta; she is from Delta State.
“Is she competent? We will leave that to see her performance as Board chairman.
“PANDEF is pleased that the presidency is finally responding, doing what it should have done two or more years ago.”
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, Col. David Imuse (rtd.) hailed the appointments, especially those from his State.
He is confident they would deploy their competence and wealth of experience in the service of Nigeria.