Politics
Group Blames Buhari, Predecessors For NDDC’s Rot
A group, under the auspices of Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD) has blamed the perceived rot in the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC on undue interference by previous Presidents.
It said sadly enough, President Muhammadu Buhari has in the past six years allowed himself to be misled to toe the same line as his predecessors by not allowing the commission to be properly managed to achieve the objective it was set up to achieve for the region and its people.
National President of the group, Comrade Igbini Emmanuel made the allegations in a statement on Friday, insisting that the Act setting up the NDDC was being breached at the detriment of the region.
“While most people have blamed all others except Nigerian Presidents, for this sad state of the commission in the past 21 years, we hold firmly that by virtue of relevant sections of the NDDC Act, the incumbent President of Nigeria who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is to be held squarely responsible for state of the commission”, he said.
Drawing attention to breaches of the Act, Igbini said, “It is imperative for us to once again draw the attention of the public, particularly to Sections 18 to 21 of the NDDC Act which require that the President of Nigeria causes keeping of transparent financial records of the commission, and preparation and submission of Annual Audit Reports and appointment of Monitoring Committees consisting only of people of proven integrity to constantly monitor the management of funds and implementation of projects by the commission under the leadership of Governing Board duly nominated by the President and screened and confirmed by the Senate of Nigeria. If these were ensured by past Nigerian Presidents, NDDC would have positively turned around the sad state of the region”.
He lamented that the wilful mismanagement of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since its establishment in the year 2000 by the patriotic elected members of the then National Assembly, would continue to be blamed squarely on all past Presidents of Nigeria from year 2000 and would remain a scar in their conscience because of their deliberate refusal and or failure to patriotically and diligently exercise their statutory powers in line with relevant sections of the NDDC Act to ensure the commission achieved its set objective for the development of the people and region of the crude oil producing Areas of the Niger Delta
“It is sadly no more news that the commission which was deliberately established to specially attend to and address the many decades of massive destruction, deprivation and underdevelopment of the region, has almost become known as “Niger Delta Destruction Commission” in view of the fact that the trillions of Naira released to the commission for the development of the area have been massively looted and diverted by a few unpatriotic Nigerian elites in government and their allies. The recent Forensic Audit Report attests to this sad fact.
“We have since year 2015 continued to advise President Buhari against the danger of allowing himself to be misled by Governors of the oil producing states as well as some top chieftains of his APC to appoint so-called illegal Interim Management Team and to prevent the Senate confirmed members of substantive Board of NDDC to have free access to the commission to carry out their functions for the benefit of the region and its people.
“It is still unexplainable why President Buhari would suddenly turn around to prevent the same persons who on October 18, 2019, he nominated to the Senate for confirmation as members of Governing Board of NDDC from being inaugurated and appealed to the Senate to “consider and confirm the nominees in the usual expeditious manner”, from expeditiously accessing the commission to carry out their functions?”, he said.
Politics
Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.
The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”
Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.
The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.
The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.
At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.
The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.
According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.
Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.
The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.
He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.
“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.
According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).
The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.
Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”
He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.
The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.
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