Former Niger Delta warlords under the aegis of Third Phase Ex-Agitators Forum of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have thanked President Bola Tinubu for assenting to the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) Bill.
By assenting to the bill, President Tinubu has demonstrated immense love for the people of the South-South states, they said.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, “General” Preye Ekpebide, National Chairman of the forum, profusely thanked the President for making the commission a reality.
He stated that: “The new commission will significantly complement the efforts of the NDDC and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government that are saddled with the implementation of policies, projects and programmes in our region.
“Nothing can be too much for the Niger Delta region which can be likened to the goose that lays the golden egg. Besides, it is clear that only the NDDC cannot meet the developmental needs of the Niger Delta.
“We are therefore confident that the new commission, when constituted, will solely concentrate on the core Niger Delta states as mandated by the new law with a view to meeting the needs of our people.
He expressed the belief that competent, patriotic and experienced Nigerians from the region would in no distant time be appointed to head the board and management of the new agency in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.
“I must also commend Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong and other lawmakers for ensuring the drafting and subsequent passage of this all-crucial bill that is now a law,” Ekpebide said.
