THE Founder of Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) and former Bayelsa State governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Moses Siasia, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give more time to the acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs Ibim Semenitari, to reposition the commission for optimal performances.
Siasia also urged President Buhari to be mindful of politicians jostling for the position of the NDDC, stressing that history has shown that the best days of the commission are when technocrats and not career politicians head its affair.
He argued that Mrs Semenitari is championing the restructuring of the commission to meet the yearning of Niger Delta in line with the agenda of the president.
“I will appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to give Mrs Semenitari more time to complete the restructuring of the commission so that it can contribute meaningfully to the development of the Niger Delta. She is dogged and committed, unbiased and incorruptible in the discharge of her responsibilities,” he said.
Siasia added that effort by the acting MD of the NDDC is beginning to show in the region by ensuring that projects awarded by the previous administration are executed.
“Since she assumed office, there has been a turnaround in the activities of NDDC. She is employing the standardised project management process in the execution of projects. This is in line with President Buhari mantra of change,” he noted.
“Records are there to show that the commission performs well when professionals are engaged to head it, rather than the career politicians. I am sure if the president gives her more time, she will turn the place around and whenever, the president deems it fit to appoint someone from Akwa Ibom, he can look within the commission rather than career politicians lobbying for the post,” he said.
It will be recalled that Siasia was among leading African business men listed by Choiseul Institute for International Politics and Geo-economics in its ranking of the top 200 young economic leaders of Africa.
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