News
MOSIEND Urges Tinubu To Ignore Calls To Sack NDDC MD
The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, (MOSIEND) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ignore the calls to sack the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
MOSIEND also accused the Niger Delta Elders for Good Governance and Accountability of sponsoring the calls.
MOSIEND, in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Kennedy Tonjo West, said it was shameful that such thing could come from a group claiming to be made up of elders.
West noted that whatever they said was a figment of their own imaginations and not the yearning of the Niger Delta people.
“It is sad that this is coming at a time when the region is very peaceful and all the stakeholders fully supporting Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as we call for his revalidation as Substantive Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)”, he said.
Comrade West, while reacting to an online publication purportedly signed by one Chief Donald Ewere, which is believed to be a pseudo name, wondered why any right thinking person would come up with such magnitude of falsehood to the extent of alleging that the Senate President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Chief of Staff to the President are having a cold war over the appointment of a substantive MD of the NDDC.
MOSIEND said, “This is a wicked and devilish craft – trying to make the public look as if leaders are fighting
“Ogbuku is very committed to bringing the vision of President Bola Tinubu concerning the region to fruition, and has gotten the confidence of the people.
“This is someone who has listening ears and consults widely before he does anything, and for the first time, Niger Deltans are gathering behind Ogbuku to continue irrespective of tribe.
“How can one imagine that the Senate President who knows the yearnings of the people of the region, who knows the level of support Dr. Samuel Ogbuku is galvanizing for him and the presidency, how he is holding the region firmly for Mr. President, especially during the fuel subsidy removal, would be the one to work against the revalidation of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku? It is surprising.
“Akpabio, the SGF and the Chief of Staff to the President know the importance of Ogbuku to the federal government and we know that they have a common interest in seeing that Dr. Ogbuku is allowed to continue to execute the visions of the presidency to the people of the region.
“Ogbuku is a very important asset to Akpabio, the SGF, the Chief of Staff to the President and Mr. President himself, and we know that there cannot be any infighting because they are well aware that everybody, irrespective of ethnicity or party, wants him (Ogbuku) to continue.
“Why would anybody want to fight the revalidation of Dr. Ogbuku? Ogbuku is from the struggle, having served in the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, and has been performing excellently. We are vouching for him; let the president revalidate him and if he doesn’t surpass their expectations, then it is our fault.
“Akume, Gbajabiamila and Akpabio should also prevail on the President to revalidate Ogbuku, because Samuel Ogbuku is the only way through which the presidency can get the best from the people of the region.”
The MOSIEND President noted that changing Ogbuku will not be a very wise decision because he has shown capacity and having another to take over from him at this point in time will mean dragging the region backward.
West called on those behind the faceless and baseless publication to desist forthwith and not misrepresent the minds of the Niger Delta people because of their overwhelming hunger and poverty.
West further appealed to President Tinubu to revalidate Ogbuku’s appointment as substantive Managing Director of the NDDC.
By: Chinedu Wosu
The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a budget of 19,636,030 Units of Account (UA) (26 million dollars) for the 2026 fiscal year, and announced plans to commemorate its 25th anniversary in November.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Hadjia Memounatou Ibrahima, who announced this, said the development followed the recent conclusion of its 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
She said the budget was adopted by the Parliament during plenary, stressing that, beyond being a mere accounting act, it was the engine of parliament’s commitment to West Africans.
”It will enable us to carry out our priority missions, including implementing the conclusions of the seminar on AI, while ensuring virtuous and transparent management of public funds entrusted to us.
”This budget represents a five per cent increase compared to the 2025 fiscal year budget, reflecting an upward adjustment of UA 939,233 from last year’s UA 18,996,897.
”Out of the budget of UA 19,636,030 for 2026, the sum of UA19, 368,394 representing 98.64 per cent is expected to be financed through the proceeds from the Community Levy, while UA257,636, equivalent to 1.36 per cent, will accrue from other sources,” Ibrahima said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ECOWAS Community Levy is a mandatory 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods imported into ECOWAS member states from non-ECOWAS countries.
Member states are under statutory obligation to pay the community levy, which is the main source of funding for ECOWAS institutions and their activities.
Ibrahima, however, expressed dismay that some members of the community were still defaulting on the payment of the levy, and warned that, going forward; such would be met with sanctions.
She also said that the commemoration of its 25th anniversary in November would highlight the ECOWAS Parliament’s achievements in deepening regional democracy, cooperation and growth, amid formidable challenges.
The Speaker described the forthcoming anniversary as “a chance to showcase resilience and chart a more innovative, youth-focused future for the community”.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
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