Don’t screen NDDC nominee, Itsekiri tell NASS

An indigene of Itsekiri, Mr Robinson Ariyo, has called on the National Assembly to stop the screening of the Delta State candidate for the position of Executive Director, Projects (EDP) in the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), Engr. Samuel Ajenakevwe.

Ariyo, who made the call on behalf of the Itsekiri nation, said this was necessary because Ajenakevwe’s nomination was against the principle of federal character.

According to him, nomination into the board from Delta State is rotated among the five ethnic groups in the state.

He noted that the former EDP was removed before the expiration of his tenure and, therefore, must be replaced by somebody from the same ethnic group whose tenure had not elapsed.

Ariyo, while addressing journalists in Warri, said the Itsekiris were already challenging the nomination at a Federal High Court in Abuja, in suit number FHC/ABJ/05/700/2016.

He said the suit was meant to seek an interim injunction restraining  the clearance of Ajenakevwe as the EDP on the board of the NDDC.

The peace builder expert said although he was not against any ethnic group in the state, his action was for the benefit of every ethnic group in the state.

He said: “I could remember sometimes ago when Engr. Godwin Omene, an Urhobo, could not complete his four-year-tenure as Managing Director of NDDC, Senator Emmanuel Agwariavwodo completed it. Elder P. Z. Aghinighan, an Ijaw, did not complete his tenure as Executive Director (Finance and Administration), but another Ijaw man, Lambart Kumboye, completed it. Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, an Isoko, could not complete his term, but his brother, Solomon Ogba, completed it.”

He disclosed that he was representing three engineers from the Itsekiri ethnic extraction as well as two others who had indicated interest for the vacant position in the commission.

They are Sunny Demi-Ejegi, Toju Victor Afinotan and George Aghaninoma.

The two other plantiffs are David Odeli and Felix Ighomieyetan.