Jostling for NDDC board positions begins in Ondo

Intense jostling has begun among prospective candidates of Ondo State origin lobbying for the position of the Managing Director in the incoming board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Ondo and Akwa Ibom states are said to be in contention for the NDDC number one job.

Sources said the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has zoned the position of the Managing Director of the commission to Ondo State, but indications have emerged that the state may be pacified with the position of Executive Director, Projects (EDP), if it loses out in the battle for the MD’s position.

Statistics have shown that Akwa-Ibom State has produced the chairman, four ED (P) and MD of the board in the last 10 years of its existence.

The incumbent MD of the commission, Dan Abia, is from Akwa Ibom State.

Concerned indigenes of Akwa Ibom State had, in a recent publication, pleaded that the incoming federal government should allow Abia to complete his term of office in two years time.

The current board of NDDC was constituted two years ago by President Goodluck Jonathan and it is expected to be officially dissolved by the APC-led incoming administration.

The Nation gathered that no fewer than ten indigenes of the oil-producing area in Ondo State have expressed their interests in the MD, EDP positions and as state representative on the incoming board of the commission.

The former PDP governorship candidate in the state, Olusola Oke, Funso Esan and former Head of Service (HoS), Ajose Kudehinbu, are allegedly lobbying to become the next MD of the Commission, while Steve Fadaini has been pencilled down by some oil-producing communities in the state for the position of EDP in the event that the state loses out in for the topmost job.

Sources revealed that some APC leaders in the state have also recommended former Chairman, Ondo State Oil producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Chief Adewale Omojuwa, Dr. Banji Ajaka, Yinka Orokoto, former Chairman of Ilaje local government, Anjorin Coker and Rawa Felix as nominees to represent the state on the incoming board of the Commission.