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Stakeholders commend Tinubu, NDDC for prioritising Niger Delta development
Some Stakeholders in the Niger Delta have commended President Bola Tinubu and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for giving priority attention to the region’s development.
The stakeholders made the commendation in a letter to Tinubu which was made available the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Thursday.
The group also commended the president for giving the current NDDC leadership the needed support to play its roles as an interventionist agency.
The stakeholders, which include leaders of ethnic nationalities, professional bodies and elder statesmen, said that the current leadership of NDDC was committed to its task of developing the region.
“We write as leaders and representatives of ethnic nationalities, critical stakeholders and professional bodies across the Niger Delta, to express our gratitude for the renewed peace in our region.
“This change is transforming the negative narratives of the past concerning our region, we sincerely thank you for this.
“We thank you for your steadfast support to the region through the NDDC, your commitment towards the sustainable development of the region is unwavering” the letter read in parts.
The stakeholders said that the vision of the Tinubu-led government had enabled NDDC to effectively undertake its mandate as an agent of development.
“The current NDDC leadership has demonstrated a renewed focus on addressing the core developmental challenges faced by communities in the region,” they said.
They further said that the current government had shown visible willingness to positively impact on Niger Delta people through infrastructure, skill acquisition, education support, and entrepreneurial development.
“The Federal Government has not only transformed lives, it has restored confidence in the commission’s activities,” the stakeholders said.
They commended the national assembly for carrying out proactive oversight of the commission in order to ensure that the needs of the region were met.
The stakeholders urged Tinubu to remain committed to the development of the Niger Delta by ensuring prompt release of allocations to the NDDC.
They said that through proactive engagements with key stakeholders, the NDDC had re-established robust frameworks to ensure accountability and inclusivity in their operations.
“This has significantly restored public trust and enhanced the commission’s credibility in the rating of the people,” the stakeholders said.
NAN reports that the letter was signed by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President, Ijaw National Congress, Sen. Emmanuel Essien of Pan Niger Delta Forum, and Olorugun Ese Gams.
Others who signed the letter are: Prof. Chris Akpotu, Prof. Simeon Achinewu, Prof. Atuboyedia Obianime, Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu Chief Edward Okpoko,and Mr. Dominic Saatah, among others. (NAN)
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, has assured that all security challenges facing the nation will be effectively addressed by the year’s end.
This statement was made during the launch of attack drones and the demonstration of locally produced bombs, developed by a homegrown technology firm.
The event was attended by security specialists and senior government officials, as General Musa showcased the indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the audience.
Accompanied by Ajao Adewale, the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, and Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State, General Musa emphasized the ongoing bureaucratic obstacles in acquiring military equipment from abroad.
Governor Mutfwang stressed the urgency for decisive measures against insecurity, calling on leaders to prevent any entity within the nation from possessing military capabilities.
The operational features of the UAVs were also demonstrated, with General Musa expressing satisfaction with this advancement, labeling it a pivotal step in combating insecurity in the country.
The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognising Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure National Chairman of the LP having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.
It held that issue of leadership was internal affair of a party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.
The court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and one other and held that it was meritorious.
It proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the LP got being unmeritorious.
Details shortly…
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has resigned from his position, According to Daily Trust.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that the former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) resigned two weeks ago.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Baba-Ahmed as special adviser on political matters to Shettima in September 2023.
Baba-Ahmed is the elder sibling of Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election.
Baba-Ahmed served as chief of staff to Bukola Saraki, former senate president, from 2017-2019.
CONFRONTATION WITH MATAWALLE OVER NEF
In April 2024, Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, described the NEF as a “political paperweight” after the group stated that the north made a mistake voting Tinubu in 2023.
In his reaction to Matawalle’s remarks, Baba-Ahmed said it would have served the Tinubu administration better if Matawalle had listed his achievements as minister — and the achievements of the other northern appointees — instead of attacking NEF.
“Scathing criticism of NEF by a junior minister of defence, Matawalle, is ill-advised. He could have done a better job for this admin if he identified contributions of especially northern ministers and other appointees like me to improving security and reducing poverty in the North,” Baba-Ahmed said.
In a riposte, the minister said any appointee must defend and promote the administration they work for.
“Dr. Baba-Ahmed’s relationship and affinity with Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) is well-known,” Matawalle said.
“The fact now is that he is an appointee of the administration as Special Adviser and it is incumbent on him to work for the success of the government he is part of, protect and defend the government against unjust and vicious attacks from those who hide under ethnic and other primordial interests to heat up the polity for myopic reasons.
“It is pertinent to state that every appointee of President Tinubu including Dr. Baba-Ahmed owes the government a copious duty to promote, elucidate and advance the good works and commendable efforts of the government across all sectors.”
He added that northern appointees must defend the government or take their exit.
Matawalle is a native of Zamfara while Baba-Ahmed hails from Kaduna.