From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
There was visible jubilation across Bayelsa State on Wednesday as the Federal Government inaugurated the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dr Sam Ogbuku as the Managing Director.
Bayelsans across party lines have been congratulating Ogbuku, imploring him to make the development of the Niger Delta region a priority.
Former governor of Bayelsa State and Senator, representing Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson had thrown its weight behind Ogbuku during the Senate screening noting that the interest of Bayelsa state overrides personal and political interest.
Former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson,
in a statement thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Ogbuku as the new Managing Director despite pressure from some quarters against his choice.
He said as a former Chief of Staff to the Bayelsa State Government, it is expected that Ogbuku will deploy his expertise in public sector management to bring the desired peace, development and stability to the Niger Delta region.
The former Commissioner urged him to see his new office as an opportunity to write his name in the good books of history by changing the face of the entire region, his home state of Bayelsa and his native Ogbia Local Government Area.
Iworiso-Markson who is vying for the Ogbia Federal Constituency seat as flagbearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), added that as someone who is at home with the youths, a lot of them will be looking up to Ogbuku for inspiration.
He said: “I commend the President, Muhammadu Buhari for the inauguration of the NDDC substantive board. It is what we have been praying and hoping for. It is cheering to us, particularly those of us from Bayelsa that one of us, Chief Samuel Ogbuku is the new Managing Director.
“It is my sincere hope that as MD he will put as priority issues of development, peace and stability of the region, Bayelsa State and Ogbia Local Government Area. I would like to appeal to him to shun divisive tendencies, political and other parochial sentiments but rather focus on his new assignment.
“Young people are looking up to him and I know as a lover of youths, his leadership of the NDDC will inspire them to emulate him. He should therefore also put at the center of his activities, their welfare.
“Despite our membership of different political parties, I have elected to throw my weight of support for him as my kinsman and I call on others to do so for the sake of Ogbia Kingdom and Bayelsa.
“It is because of the development of our people, to unite them that I decided to contest the 2023 election to represent Ogbia Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. And I believe that with Ogbuku at the NDDC we can work together to achieve so much”, Iworiso-Markson said.
