The Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA), led by Comrade Umuakpo Ovie, has congratulated Olorogun Bernard Okumagba and Prophet Jones Erue Ode on their appointments as Managing Director and Commissioner, Representing Delta State, in the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), respectively.
INYA Director of Media and Strategy, Comr. Eniwake Orogun, in a statement indicated that the youth assembly of Isoko nation assured the appointees of their support.
The statement alos indicated that the youths were optimistic that Okumagba and the new board would work to ensure that the Niger Delta region is lifted from its comatose state. “We are hopeful that you will use your good offices to improve the lots of Delta State and the Niger Delta,” they declared.
The youth assembly was, however, critical of the backwardness of Isoko nation, appealing to Okumagba to boost their confidence by giving them the requisite attention.
“As an ethnic nation, it is also our sincere hope that this board will give Isoko its rightful place in the scheme of things and will not betray our confidence like the immediate past board did, especially, in project awards and completion, training and empowerment of our youths and other deliverables the board has to offer,” the statement said.
President Muhammadu Buhari had approved a 16-man board of the NDDC where Dr. Pius Odubu, representing Edo State was appointed chairman.
Members of the board include: Bernard Okumagba – Delta State, Managing Director; and Otobong Ndem – Akwa Ibom, Executive Director, Projects; Maxwell Okoh -Bayelsa State, Jones Erue – Delta State, Victor Ekhatar – Edo State, Joy Nunieh – Rivers State, Nwogu Nwogu – Abia State and Theodore Allison – Bayelsa State.
Others include: Victor Antai – Akwa Ibom State; Maurice Effiwatt – Cross River State; Olugbenga Elema – Ondo State; Uchegbu Kyrian – Imo State; Aisha Muhammed, Kano, representing the North-West; Ardo Zubairu, Adamawa, representing the North-East, and Badmus Mutalib, Lagos State representing the South-West.