South-South Governors Forum has criticized the current crisis trying to tear the Niger Delta Development Commission apart, saying it supports neither of the principal gladiators in the fight.
It said that its desire is to see a commission that performs it duty, which is to foster the development of the oil-producing region.
“The South-South Governors are desirous to see an NDDC that is fully alive and responsive to its mandate of accelerating infrastructural development of the Niger Delta region and enhancing the general living conditions of our people. Hence, we will not hesitate to give our unqualified support to any policy initiative that will make this a reality,” the forum said in a statement issued late Thursday by it chairman, Ifeanyi OKowa, governor of Delta State.
The other state in the region is Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers.
The statement followed an attempt on Thursday by a team of Policemen who barricade the Port Harcourt residence of Joy Numieh, immediate past acting managing director of the commission, to kidnap her. She was rescued from the siege by Nyesom Wike, governor of Ricers State, who bulldozed his way to the venue of the attack and ferried her to the government house.
Nunieh’s travails followed her allegations against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and former governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of attempting to molest her sexually, and fraud in the affairs of the commission.
Wike had warned before the siege on Nunieh that Rivers State would stand idly by and watch any harm come to her because she is a daughter of the state.
“The Forum wishes to advise the combatants in the current crisis in the NDDC to refrain from utterances and actions that will breach the peace and security of the region,’’ the forum said.
“We urge the feuding parties in the NDDC to conduct themselves in a civil, orderly and lawful manner for the good of the region and the progress of the country.”
They condemned the attempted abduction of Nunieh in the early hours of Thursday, saying it was unwarranted, unnecessary and uncalled for.
While calling on security authorities to investigate the siege on Nunieh, the forum added:“let it be on record that we are neither in support of nor against Ms. Nunieh in the current cloud of controversy surrounding the NDDC.
“However, as responsible public servants and leaders in the Niger Delta, we are mindful of the implications her attempted abduction could have on the peace and security of the region, which the current administration has labored to sustain in the last five years.
“We do not want that to be truncated as it can have adverse consequences on the national economy,” it added.
The governors said they were in support of the forensic audit of the commission by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We believe the Senate is operating within its oversight functions through the ad-hoc committee set up for that purpose.
“It behooves us to respect the Senate oversight function and allow it to discharge this responsibility in a fair, transparent and equitable manner.ry.
“Democracy is about the rule of law; we have the courts and the various democratic institutions to deal with any grievances people may have without resorting to underhanded tactics and methods to intimidate and hound others.
