By Odimegwu Onwumere
The quest
for who will man the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is taking the
shape of the 2011 presidential elections, where ‘it was zoning’ and ‘it was not
zoning’ characterized the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary elections.
A
lot of people are saying that the NDDC chairman must come from their zone,
while others are lobbying Aso Rock with the help of their state governors and
the big wigs in Nigeria thereby putting the mind of President Goodluck Jonathan
in a corner, perhaps not to take a conscientous decision that would produce who
chairs the NDDC.
If the the
Presidency is bent on listening to lobbyists for the appointment of persons
into the new board and management of the agency, Jonathan will find it very
hard to appoint someone who will take into cognizance the bedeviled plights of
the people of Niger Delta, and by extension, Nigerians at large, and harness
them. This is the time to seprate politicians from technocrats in the
appointment, because technocrats who are into politics are dangerous in any
appointment more than a wounded python. They concentrate much on work-politics
inlure of the job. This is the time to seprate religion, region and personality.
Whoever that should be appointed must be on a genuine ground. The agency must
be seprated from politics and politicians if Nigerians are truly looking for
result-oriented features devoid of godfatherism which many people think has
gone on errand in the country, whereas the practice is still very much in
vogue.
There is
no amount of pressure by lobbyists on the Presidency that should make Jonathan
be sidelined by key officials of the Presidency to appoint against his mind.
What made the management and board of the commission was sacked by President
Jonathan on September 13, 2011 in line with the recommendations of the Oronsaye
Committee, should not be allowed to repeat self.
While
Jonathan has given a nod for a quick replacement of the ousted leadership of
the commission, his conscience should be quick to fulfill his promise because
this issue is taking a long time. He should brave up and step on toes to make
the appointment. Recycling of politicians in such a sensitive Commission should
be eschewd.
Jonathan
sould not be hoodwinked in appointing any loyalists of politicians or members
of the Oronsanye Panel into NDDC, because the appointee might not give the
expectant result wanted in the Commission. If Jonathan does the contrary, his
action would cast doubt on his promise of making and bringing the change needed
in Nigeria
Jonathan
should know those scheming to become the chairman of the board of the
commission and those who want to do the job and appoint them. The later is
preferable. He should not neglect those from outside the Niger Delta, because
among them, the LEADER could be. This appointment should not create serious
credibility crisis as we can see.
The
sincere intention of the Presidency to reposition the commission should not be
traded. The trend of recommendation should be stopped. Jonathan should know
that he needs to make Nigerians happy in this appointment so that the questions
of many Nigerians in the rationale behind the dissolution of the former
leadership of the commission would be in the affirmative. Many Nigerians had
said that it was wrong for President Jonathan to punish the old members equally
because not all sacked members could be corrupt. They even said that the
dissolution by the president was a mudslinger action that contravened the
provisions of the NDDC Act, where a mandatory and statutory tenure for the
management and board of the agency was relegated.
Jonathan
would receive vituperations and venoms if he goes by his conscience, but that
will safe Nigerians and the commission further embarrassment. He should be
careful of a few self-seeking lobbyists for this job, because they could hide
their deceptive and treacherous tendencies. These people will never find any
fault in his government. They are just rabble-rousers. They want their own
favour. They go from office to office, from one political party to the other.
They are not ready to be stable.
Those who
have had cause to help NDDC have never, but here they are looking for the job.
How many suggestions and essays have they written to foster the dissolved NDDC?
But you will hear them saying today that they are professionals who the work
should go to. Anyway, have we not seen professionals messed up in the course of
their duties, whereas those we never expected that they will perform made us
proud? Professionals indeed!
If
Jonathan wants to get it right this time in the NDDC, the issue of ‘illustrious
son of the Niger Delta’ should be reviewed, because not all the people who are
from the Niger Delta are ‘illustrious sons and daughters’ in the real sense of
‘illustrious’ especially when the issue has to do with the management of money.
Well meaning Nigerians can attest to this fact. Not all Nigerians are also
‘illustrious Nigerians’ when it comes to leadership.
Buttressing
this point, we have seen what many ‘seasoned administrators with professional
degrees and management skills’ have caused this nation in their different
public offices. So, Jonathan must be deaf on hearing such image laundering
statements such as ‘illustrious’ and ‘professionals’, because not all that
glitters is gold. He must follow his mind. This is the only thing that
would direct him finely in not making the wrong choice. It is not one’s
Curriculum Vitae (CV) that does the job.
Odimegwu
Onwumere is the Coordinator, Concerned
Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV)
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