A coalition of ex militants from Akwa Ibom has given the federal government 14 days ultimatum to remove the sole administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Effiong Akwa and reconstitute a substantive board for the commission.
They also asked the FG to sack Colonel Milland Dikio (rtd) and appoint a substantive special adviser/coordinator for the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) within two weeks.
The former freedom fighters under the aegis of ‘Unyek Isong’ made the demands in a press release signed by ‘General’ Dede Udofia and ‘Major Ibanga Ekeng’ and issued to journalists in Uyo on Friday.
They warned that if their demands are not met within 14 days they will embark on a mass protest during which all FG projects, parastatals, ExxonMobil facilities/operations and the NDDC office in the state will be shut down.
“Rising from a high-powered meeting with some ex militant leaders in Akwa Ibom Unyek Isong hereby demands the removal of the sole administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and reconstitution of a substantive board for the commission to ensure that the interventionist agency runs in line with the NDDC Act.
“We also demand for the immediate appointment of a substantive special adviser/coordinator for the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to replace the present interim administrator.
“We view the appointment of the Interim Management Commission (IMC) and now a sole administrator to run the affairs of the NDDC as well as oversee the NDDC forensic audit as illegal even when the nominees for the new NDDC board had already been screened and confirmed by the Senate in 2019,” the press release stated.
They alleged that running the NDDC and the PAP with interim administrators has resulted in fraud, financial recklessness and the usurpation of the resources of the Niger Delta region by self-seeking politicians.
