Demand good governance not politics, NDDC boss urges Traditional Rulers

• Says Traditional Rulers play key role in ensuring peace, security

The Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere has admonished Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, to advise their subjects who are public office holders and politicians to play less politics and govern more, stressing that this would bring true development to their area.

The Managing Director who gave this admonition while playing host to executive members, TROMPCOM, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt stated that public officers playing less politics and focusing on development initiatives would improve the lives of citizens.

He acknowledged the role played by TROMPCON in ensuring peace and security in their various communities in the Niger Delta, adding that as “the hen that lays the golden egg,” the region could not be ignored.”

Mr Ekere further said, “The royal fathers have played very key roles in ensuring peace in the region. We cannot afford to joke with the traditional rulers. I recognize your role in fostering peace in the region.”

The NDDC boss therefore pledged continuation of the Commission’s robust relationship it had shared with TROMPCON over the years.

“We will continue to support TROMPCOM. We are already supporting the association in the upcoming conference of the traditional rulers in the Niger Delta,” he declared

The Chairman of TROMPCON, Eze Akuwueze Ikegwuruka, in his speech noted that the royal fathers had underlined importance of curbing illegal bunkering and other socio-economic vices in the Niger Delta, adding that this prompted the move to organize a conference to address the hydra-headed problems.

He re-stated the position of TROMPCON on the statutory obligations of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, to the NDDC.

“TROMPCON urges the NLNG as a gas processing company to comply with Section 14(1) of the Niger Delta Development Commission Act which stipulates that 3 per cent of the total annual budget of any oil producing company operating on-shore and off-shore in Niger Delta, including gas processing companies under which the NLNG falls, is expected and requested to discharge its responsibility as constitutionally required without further delay”, he said.

Eze Ikegwuruka who observed that the actions or inactions of the National Assembly impacts on the activities of the NDDC, regretted that the national budget, on which the fortunes of the nation lies, was often delayed.

Ikegwuruka therefore appealed to the National Assembly to henceforth expedite action on early passage of the NDDC budget in order to encourage effective administration of her services to the people of the region.

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