A coalition of Niger Delta youths on Tuesday commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, on the appointment of nominees to the board for Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the youths under the auspicies of the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience, noted that the choice of persons appointed was widely acceptable to people of the region.
The coalition, in a statement issued by its Co-ordinator, Izon Ebi, in Yenagoa, observed that the president and Akpabio had endeared themselves to the Niger Delta youths and other stakeholders by the appointments.
They noted that the appointees were qualified and distinguished persons in the region, who are capable of driving the new vision of the NDDC and the Niger Delta.
The group said persons such as Chief Bernard Okumagba, Chief Denyanbofa Dimaro, Mr Effiong Akwa, among others, were tested and trusted hands with verifiable track records.
They maintained that the list had indicated that the era of master and slave relationship as well as perpetual servitude was over in the NDDC and the region.
The youths reiterated their commitment to the peace and development of the Niger Delta region and expressed full support for the nominees.
They advised the nominees to be steadfast, focused and not to succumb to the antics of the “enemies” of peace and development of the region.
The group expressed concern that some people had started regrouping to hijack the process of constituting the board ,saying the people of the region would not tolerate such .
“We want to advise the so-called nefarious groups and persons to openly dissociate themselves from the enemies of peace and development of the region or be prepared to face the wrath of the youths.
“We, therefore, advise them once again emulate the actions and activities of other organisations to promote peace and development of the Niger Delta region.
“It is on this note that we want to sound it loud and clear that we are not going to accept rascals and political jobbers to determine our future for us, “the coalition said .
According to the youths ,the Niger Delta people will not like to lose out of the feat achieved by Akpabio because of the few enemies of the region.
“We want them to understand that in this 21st century, slave-master perpetual servitude is no longer fashionable and acceptable.
“We must commend President Buhari and Akpabio for building the confidence of the people by going for technocrats and grassroots mobilisers who understand the core developmen needs of the region to achieve the desired peace and development.” they said . (NAN)