Ogbia natives at the press conference
The people of Ogbia in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Monday appealed to aggrieved groups over the appointment of Dr Sam Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to sheath their sword.
They equally appealed to those that are planning to protest against the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of NDDC to sheath their swords and rather, embrace constructive dialogue.
Addressing a press conference in Yenagoa, the leaderships of the Ogbia Kingdom led by the Obanobhan of Ogbia Kingdom, HRM King Dimaro Charles- Owaba, and the Acting National Chairman of Ogbia Brotherhood, Dr Azibalaguo Seibofa, commended former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu for the appointment and re-appointment of Ogbuku as the MD/CEO of the NDDC, and also thanked the people of the nine NDDC states for their maximum support for Ogbuku.
Seibofa, who is also the Traditional Prime Minister of Ogbia Kingdom, read the text on behalf of the leadership of the Kingdom.
He regretted that since the discovery of crude oil and gas at Oloibiri-Otabagi in 1956 and the subsequent discovery of more oil wells and trillions cubit feet deposits of gas in other towns and villages in Ogbia Kingdom, unquantifiable volume of.crude oil and gas worth Trillions of Naira have been piped out of the land without commensurate rewards.
Seibofa, who was flanked by other traditional rulers, leaders of thoughts, former and serving political appointees and other leaders from the area , said: “Oloibiri-Otabagi and other communities in Ogbia have been abandoned for decades.
“They have been without efforts by the International Oil Companies (1OCs) and Federal Government to deliberately develop the area or embark on remediation to curb the devastation, degradation and total destruction of our environment including wildlife and aquatic life, the flora and fauna.
“Right from the first Republic that the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) was established by the Alhaji Abubakar Tarawa Balewa government to the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Area Commission (OMPADEC) by the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida regime, no son or daughter of Ogbia kingdom was appointed to head any of the interventionists agencies.
“This is in spite our immeasurable sacrifices as the Cradle of oil and gas wealth in the country.
“While we acknowledge the natural scramble for power and available opportunities, we wish to appeal to all the various aggrieved groups including those that are planning to protest against our son, Chief Samuel Ogbuku to sheath swords and rather embrace constructive dialogue.
“As a kingdom, we have always supported other Niger Deltans and successive administrations, we therefore, appeal for the same total support for our son.
“While we vehemently oppose the trend of removal of Ogbia people in public offices like the cases of Chief (Sen.) Dr. Melford Obiene Okilo as Governor of Rivers state in 1983 and President Jonathan in 2015.
“We commend and appreciate the various policies, programmes and projects of Mr. President under the Renewed Hope Agenda that are geared towards reforming, transforming and repositioning the economy of our great country.
“We also extend the same token of love, support, solidarity and commendation to the governors of the nine (9) NDDC states and also wish them well in the discharge of their constitutional duties and responsibilities.” (NAN)
