Ethnic group condemns attack on NDDC MD’s aide, warns against sabotage

The leadership of the Wakirike Youth Assembly, an ethnic group of the community hosting the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC in Rivers has condemned agitation for the sack of the Special Adviser on youth to the NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Matthew Dango.

The group said, the call for sack of the SA and the media attack on him were part of the plot to sabotage activities of the NDDC which they would not tolerate, adding that as host to the development agency, activities of the agency was being monitored, hence, they condemned the provocative and misleading statements against the agency.

In a statement which was issued by the convener, Chief Israel Tom Aseminaso and sent to CAPITAL POST in Abuja on Monday, said, self-centredness and egocentric posture of some individuals masquerading as leaders of Niger Delta region would not be condoned.

It reads: “The leadership of the Wakirike Youth Assembly, Port Harcourt Branch, Marine Base, Rivers State, the host community to the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has described a recent media report titled “Niger Delta Stakeholders Call for Sack of SA Youth to NDDC MD” credited to Mr. Charles Omusuku, who doubles as the Secretary of MOSIEND as misleading, provocative and an act of sabotage against the existing status quo.

“For clarity, Mr. Matthew Dango is our brother and mentor, and we will not condone any efforts to undermine him specifically or the NDDC, which is located in our community, by egocentric and self-serving individuals, masquerading as champions of the Niger Delta region.”

The group submitted that they were satisfied with activities of NDDC as the agency strives to deliver on mandate and declared that this is not the time to play and distract attention of the agency to something else yet.

“The reality of the situation is that sincere and patriotic youths of the Niger Delta are content with Matthew Dango, in the manner he has been fulfilling the duties assigned to him. He has been effective in performing his duties and has represented the youths in the most positive light before his boss, the MD, and the management, and the Board of the NDDC.

“He is among the few SAs who have accorded the desired respect to the elders and worthy stakeholders of our region.

“We are equally confident that our indefatigable MD/CEO, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, is also content with his performance.”

“The fact that Mr Charles Omusuku, a supposed Secretary of MOSIEND, an organization meant to foster unity and prosperity of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, would propagate such a contentious statement over trivial and groundless accusations reveals his true intentions and disposition.

“It is a deliberate act of sabotage aimed at jeopardizing the current harmonious relationship between the Managing Director/CEO and his aide on one hand and the cooperative relations between the host community and the commission on the other.”

“Individuals like Charles Omusuku are plagued by the reprehensible “crab-mentality”; if they cannot achieve success, neither should anyone else. Charles Omusuku and his accomplices are undoubtedly motivated by avarice and envy, and they will go to great lengths to impede the progress of anyone willing to make right the way things are done in the region.

“Unfortunately, we have found ourselves in a region where almost everyone is a stakeholder; deviants of all kinds, naysayers, gainsayers, and those who have commercialized activism are all stakeholders.

“Their modus operandi is hoodwinking public office-holders for cash by calling for their sacks while at the same time lobbying to take over their offices from them. Wolves in sheep’s clothing whom nothing good can come out from.

“They hide under the umbrella of regional non-state actors to spew gibberish against their leaders, with invectives for personal gains. These desperate individuals are ready to do anything to pull another down hoping to be bestowed with such office.

“Mr. Charles Omusuku and his group of accomplices who have come out to antagonize our brother, the SA on Youth Affairs in the media all have access to the MD of NDDC, under whose office the SA works. They could have reached the MD on the phone to express whatever issues (if any) they have against his SA, but instead of doing so, they decided to come to the public glare.

“This simply shows the extent of their desperation to displace and take over the office of the SA on Youths from Mr. Matthew Dango by all means.

“While they are at that, they need to understand the implications of their actions and that we are in a region where we all know our antecedents. It will be of good interest for us not to wash our dirty linens in public.

“We advise them and others who have decided to continue the path of coming to public glare over frivolous issues to stop forthwith, especially when they do not have the moral compass to do so.

“We warn that any attempt to distort the existing peace and cooperation between the Marine Base community and the management of the Commission will be vehemently resisted.”