The people of Ogbia Kingdom have passed a vote of confidence in the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
They took the decision on Monday during a press conference held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, lauding Tinubu’s leadership qualities.
In an address delivered by Dr. Azibalaguo Seibofa, Acting Chairman of the Ogbia Brotherhood Worldwide, the Ogbia natives appreciated Tinubu for reappointing one of their kinsmen, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In his words: “Oloibiri-Otabagi and other communities in Ogbia kingdom have been abandoned for decades without efforts by the International Oil Companies (1OCs) and Federal government to deliberately develop the area or embark on remediation to curb the devastation, degradation and total destruction of our environment including wildlife and aquatic life, the flora and fauna.
“Right from the first Republic that the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) was established by the Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa government to the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Area Commission (OMPADEC) by the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida regime, no son or daughter of Ogbia kingdom was appointed to head any of the interventionists agencies despite our immeasurable sacrifices as the cradle of oil and gas wealth in the country.”
The statement called on all well-meaning Nigerians, especially people of the Niger Delta, to support and collaborate with the Ogbuku-led NDDC for the growth and development of the region in various spheres.
“While we acknowledge the natural scramble for power and available opportunities, we wish to appeal to all the various aggrieved groups including those that are planning to protest against our son, Samuel Ogbuku, to sheath swords and rather embrace constructive dialogue.
“As a kingdom, we have always supported other Niger Deltans and successive administrations, we therefore appeal for the same total support for our son,” Seibofa said.
According to him, “While we vehemently oppose the trend of removal of Ogbia people in public offices like the cases of (Sen.) Dr. Melford Obiene Okilo as Governor of Rivers state in 1983 and President Jonathan in 2015, we commend and appreciate the various policies, programmes and projects of Mr. President under the Renewed Hope Agenda that are geared towards reforming, transforming and repositioning the economy of our great country.
“We also extend the same token of love, support, solidarity and
commendation to the governors of the nine (9) NDDC states and wish them well in the discharge of their constitutional duties and responsibilities.”
The statement called on President Tinubu to discountenance faceless groups calling for Ogbuku’s sack.
While expressing satisfaction with Ogbuku’s performance, the kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan said that since his assumption of office tremendous progress, and unparalleled development have been achieved with various projects littered across the Niger Delta region.
Meanwhile, the grand monarch of the kingdom, His Eminence, King Dumaro Charles Owaba, lamented the neglect of Ogbia communities in spite of its socioeconomic relevance to the nation.
“Ogbia is where oil was first struck in commercial quantity and still contributing to the economic development of the country, yet it lacks basic infrastructural development compared to what has been taken from the area”, King Owaba said.
Various clan heads of the kingdom from both Bayelsa and Rivers States, prominent chiefs, elders, women and youths of the kingdom attended the historic event.