The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide has berated the Minister of Transportation, RotimiAmaechi, over his silence on the agitation of stakeholders for the inauguration of a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The IYC President, Peter Igbifa, in a statement wondered why Amaechi, who was hitherto known for his boldness in speaking out, had maintained an unusual studied silence since the agitation for justice and fairness started regarding the NDDC.
He stated, “The silence of leaders like the Transport minister, RotimiAmaechi, on the illegality at the NDDC is no longer golden.
Igbifa, who reflected on some of the achievements of the council since he took over its leadership, also condemned President MuhamaduBuhuari for his silence on the NDDC board in his speech during the recent inauguration of the hostel project completed by the commission in Uyo, AkwaIbomState.
He said though the extension of EffiongAkwa’s tenure as the sole administrator of the NDDC expired on December 31, 2021, the Presidency was doing nothing to inaugurate the board of the interventionist agency.
The IYC boss said the council would continue to demand transparency and accountability in the NDDC and called on the President to make the forensic audit report of the commission public.
Igbifa said the council would also monitor the implementation of the Petroleum Industrial Act to ensure that it would not become another political strategy to steal billions of naira to pursue the 2023 general elections.
