The nomination of Mr. Nsima Ekere as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari has received the support of traditional rulers of the Ibibio, Annang, Oro and Ekid, the four major ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom State.
The Ibibios predominate 14 of the 31 local government areas of the state, followed by the Annang with eight, Oro with five and Ekid with two.
In a goodwill message to President Buhari, Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio, the supreme council of Ibibio traditional rulers, expressed “deepest appreciation” to the President for Mr. Ekere’s appointment which, according to it, will enable Akwa Ibom State to complete its tenure as the chief executive of the commission and the oil-producing Niger Delta states to witness massive environmental transformation and human capacity development.
In a message signed by Uyio Ikpaisong and Paramount Ruler of Etinan LGA, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette, the council urged Akwa Ibom people to continue to support President Buhari to enable him to deliver the much-needed democracy dividends to Nigerians and prayed for the success of Mr. Ekere as he takes on his new task.
While also thanking the President for the appointment of Mr. Samuel Frank as the commissioner representing Akwa Ibom on the NDDC Board, it, however, appealed to the President to appoint more Akwa Ibom people into Federal Boards and Commissions in the country.
On its part, the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers (COTR) said they were expressing appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the well-deserved appointment of Obong Nsima Udo Ekere as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Mr. Samuel George Frank as the Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom State in the NDDC Board.”