Elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday said the Southsouth would resist the appointment of another interim administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute a substantive Board without further delay.
According to him, there is a limit to what an interim administrator can do.
Clark spoke when members of the Delta Central All Progressives Congress Leaders of Thought (DELCAT) visited him in Abuja.
The NDDC board was dissolved and the President authorised a forensic audit following allegations of widespread corruption at the commission.
President Buhari had expressed disgust that a few individuals entrusted with the management squandered the resources for over 20 years.
Clark said that when the Forensic Audit Report was submitted to Buhari on September 2, 2021, he promised to constitute a substantive board for the commission.
“About 10 months after, no board is constituted.
“This is affecting the duties of the commission and the people of the Niger-Delta region because there is a limit to the things an interim administration can do.
“The yearning of the people of the Niger Delta is for the Federal Government to constitute a substantive board.
“Any other agitation, especially from some greedy and self-centred persons for Mr President to appoint another Interim administrator will be resisted,” he said.
The elder statesman said that there were speculations that the government was in the process of appointing another interim administrator for the NDDC after Effiong Akwa.
Clark added: “If this is true, it will mean that it will be the fourth time an interim administrator will be appointed in total neglect of the act setting up the commission.
“This is an aberration. The people of the Niger Delta have been patient and understanding enough.
“As Mr President ends his tenure, we plead and wish that the cordial relationship which has been established out of very deliberate and concerted efforts should not be truncated.
“We plead with him not to listen to the selfish demands of a few individuals who want to continue to despoil and milk dry the region.”