The Niger Delta Coalition Vision (NDCV), a group advocating for peace and development in the Niger Delta, has condemned the call by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) for the sack of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, over alleged neglect of the organisation.
MOSOP had, at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, last Thursday, called for the removal of Chief Ogbuku, as the NDDC Managing Director over alleged non-inclusion of the organisation in the Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit, held last week.
However, NDCV described the statement made by MOSOP as regrettable, reckless, and capable of inciting ethnic tension in the Niger Delta region.
NDCV, in a statement signed by His Royal Highness, Alaowei Amawari; Prince Victor Oleh, Engr. Donald Benneth, Hon. Lovina Charles, Chief Simeipiri Kiki and Mr. Chike Chile, expressed disappointment at the MOSOP’s statement, saying the issue could have been addressed through dialogue and constructive engagement.
The statement, read in part, “We are deeply concerned about individuals and groups in the region resorting to issuing provocative press commentaries that could sow division.
“We do not need to remind MOSOP that the Ogoni matter is part of the broader Niger Delta context. We share a common goal of seeking justice in social, economic, environmental, and resource matters.
“Undoubtedly, the entire Niger Delta region has, over the years, demonstrated significant solidarity with the Ogoni cause, even though we are all victims of the devastation and degradation of our lands and livelihoods due to the activities of oil multinationals. None is a greater victim than the rest!
“If MOSOP thoughtlessly demands Ogbuku’s removal over a perceived lack of summit invitation, perhaps we should urge MOSOP to address the fact that no “barrel” of oil has been extracted from Ogoni land for about 30 years.
“Shouldn’t there be a resolution to this issue? If every oil-producing community in the Niger Delta halts production, won’t that impact funds for the NDDC, local governments, states, the FCT, and the country as a whole?”
NDCV cautioned MOSOP and other ethnic and socio-cultural organisations in the Niger Delta against making expressions that could inflame ethnic tensions and undermine the existing peace in the region.
The body further urged the public and the government to disregard MOSOP’s call.
NDCV said the current leadership of the NDDC led by Chief Ogbuku has demonstrated commendable leadership and competence in running the commission, transforming its previous negative image.
It also commended the NDDC’s Board and Management for successfully hosting the Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit 2024, the first of its kind in the region, in Port Harcourt.
Meanwhile, the leadership of Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC) Worldwide and the Bayelsa State Local Government Youth Presidents Forum (BSLGYPF) have also condemned the call by MOSOP for the sack of the NDDC boss.
National President of OBYC Worldwide, Ambassador Johnny S. Jonathan, in a statement, said MOSOP, as a pressure and socio-political organisation, has no right to demand the removal of the NDDC boss over alleged exclusion of MOSOP from the NDDC Stakeholders Summit.
He said, “The attention of the Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC) Worldwide and the Bayelsa State Local Government Youth Presidents Forum (BSLGYPF) have been drawn to what I term as a petty publication made on the Nation Newspaper of Saturday 13 July 2024 and credited to the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), wherein they berated and alleged that our pathfinder, priceless jewel, visionary and innovative leader, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, PhD, MD/CEO of NDDC, excluded the people of Ogoni from the just-concluded Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit, emphasizing that the NDDC Boss allegedly said that the main reason for the exclusion of the Ogonis from the Summit was because they have denied the Federal and State governments access to the crude oil deposits in Ogoniland.
“For proper information and record purposes, Chief (Dr.) Samuel Ogbuku by his character disposition is a reformed, refined and detribalided son of the Niger Delta Region that has respect for people irrespective of social status, ethnic tie, creed and political affiliation and persuasion, hence his appreciable collaborative efforts and actions geared towards uniting the people and creating the necessary conditions for social cohesion in the Niger Delta Region through his periodic Stakeholders engagements.
“Consequently, the MD couldn’t have contemplated excluding an important ethnic nationality like the Ogoni let alone making a nasty and denigrating comment as alleged by one Imeabe Oscar of MOSOP”.
He said the Niger Delta Region is on a new pathway to sustainable development under Ogbuku, and warned against a pull-him-down syndrome, emphasizing that such crude and destructive actions have become obsolete and counterproductive.
Jonathan, who is also the Chairman of Bayelsa State Local Government Youth Presidents Forum (BSLGYPF), called on the people of the Niger Delta Region and the public to disregard MOSOP’s statement, and urged the people to refrain from statements capable of causing disunity among the various ethnic nationalities in the region.

By: Chinedu Wosu