Anger in Bayelsa APC as members threaten suit over alleged tenure extension at NDDC
- Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa are threatening to go to court if the tenure of the NDDC board is extended
- The members say the extension of the board will shortchange the turn of Bayelsa and Port Harcourt to produce the next leaders of the NDDC
- The group also pleads with minister Rotimi Amaechi and former Governor Timipre Sylva to intervene on the issue
Some leaders and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state are threatening a suit at the Federal High Court sitting Port Harcourt, Rivers against the federal government over the alleged attempt to extend the tenure of the current management board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
A top member of the party in the state, Comrade Sunday Frank-Oputu, said the decision to approach the court was based on the conviction that the presidency and some agents of government officials are “moving to violate the NDDC Act on tenure of the board.”
Legit.ng learnt through a statement from the aggrieved members that Hon Frank-Oputu, a chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in the state, said the state leader of the APC, Comrade Yekini Nabena, and the Secretary of Bayelsa APC caucus were duly consulted.
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He, however, said the party is seeking an order of the court to stop the move by the federal government and its agents to renew the tenure of the present NDDC board beyond December 15.
“We have concluded plan to file a suit at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. We are not happy over the development.
“We are asking the court for an order stopping such violation of the NDDC Act. We will secure an order of perpetually injunction stopping the Presidency from elongating the tenure of the NDDC board.
“That was what happened when the former acting managing director and ex-commissioner, Ibim Semenitari’s tenure was about to be renewed and the people of Akwa Ibom state protested and approached the court.
“President Buhari saw the sense in their protest and appointed the present managing director and board in line with the rotation clause in the NDDC Act.
“We call on him not to allow the parochial few to lead the administration towards illegality."
Hon Oputu also described as blackmail and admittance of guilt the allegation against the representative of the state, Prof Nelson Brainbayefa, as the sponsor of the protest by the APC.
“The Bayelsa representative is not in our support in this fight, but some elements in the party are trying to blackmail him against other board members,” the statement said.
He said if the court order failed, he and his group are ready to occupy the NDDC office in Port Harcourt with over 500,000 supporters of the party.
“We will occupy with foams and mats until PMB do the right thing.
“We are worried but we will call on the former governors of Rivers and Bayelsa, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and Chief Timipre Sylva, to resolve their differences and stop this illegality that is about to rob the two states of their tenure to lead the NDDC,” the statement read.
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Ijaw youths from the nine states of the Niger Delta uunder the aegis of the Niger-Delta Youth Leadership Forum (PANDLEAF) and the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) had earlier rejected the alleged move by the to extend the tenure of the present board of the NDDC.
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, denied an alleged extension of the tenure of the present board of the NDDC.
He was reacting to Senate’s resolve to investigate the allegation, made by Emmanuel Paulker (PDP Bayelsa).
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Source: Legit.ng
