The Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Organizations (CNDCSOs), in collaboration with the Niger Delta Ex-agitators’ Forum (NDEF), has reaffirmed its determination to proceed with the planned mass protest against the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The demonstration, dubbed The Mother of All Protests, is scheduled to begin on February 26, 2025, simultaneously in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and across the Niger Delta states.
In a statement signed by key leaders, including Barr. Prince Nelson Gomeromo, National Coordinator of the Progressive Alliance for Nigerians (PAN); Comr. Jackson Agbor, Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Leaders of Thought (IYLT); Comr. Birinumughan Jesse, also known as Gen 90, National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Defence Force (NDDF); Comr. Mike Owotorufa, Chairman of the Niger Delta People’s Union for Coastal Communities Development (NDPUCCD); and Comr. John Itunu Akiri, President of the Niger Delta Democratic Right Organisation (NDDRO), the coalition outlined several pressing issues necessitating the protest.
The primary demand centers around the expiration of the tenure of NDDC Managing Director Samuel Ogbuku, whose continued stay in office is deemed illegal under Section 3 of the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment Act) 2000.
The coalition insists that Ogbuku be removed immediately and replaced with a qualified candidate from Delta State in accordance with the law.
Similarly, the appointment of Chiedu Ebie as Chairman of the NDDC Board has been strongly opposed, with the group arguing that his hometown, Agbor-Alidinma in Ika South LGA of Delta State, is not an oil-producing area, making him ineligible for the role.
The coalition has also raised allegations of large-scale corruption and mismanagement under Ogbuku’s leadership, describing his tenure as the worst in the commission’s history.
They criticized the Niger Delta Youth Internship Programme, claiming it lacks transparency and serves as a cover for embezzlement.
Ogbuku is further accused of misusing NDDC funds to bribe ethnic groups into endorsing his leadership while allegedly diverting public resources to fund his rumored governorship ambition in Bayelsa State.
Additionally, concerns have been raised over the alleged disproportionate distribution of contracts, with claims that projects have overwhelmingly favored Bayelsa State at the expense of other Niger Delta states.
The coalition also condemned the handling of the NDDC scholarship scheme, accusing Ogbuku’s administration of manipulating allocations to benefit political allies instead of ensuring equitable distribution among the commission’s nine member states.
Another major grievance involves employment irregularities, with the coalition alleging that over 85% of recent hires within the NDDC were secretly recruited from Ogbuku’s hometown, Ogbia, without any public advertisement.
In response to these grievances, the coalition has vowed to sustain protests until their demands are met.
Planned actions include shutting down key locations such as the East-West Road, the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, and the National Assembly complex in Abuja, with protesters remaining at these sites until their concerns are addressed.
The coalition has also warned the Minister for Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, to focus on tackling the Niger Delta’s developmental challenges instead of interfering in legal matters beyond his jurisdiction.
As the February 26 protest date approaches, tensions continue to escalate, setting the stage for what could be a defining moment in the struggle for accountability and equity within the NDDC. Whether this movement will force the necessary reforms remains to be seen.
