Senators screening nominee for the Chairman position of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, are divided over the nomination of Onochie on the grounds that she is not from an oil producing community in Delta state where she hails from as they postulated that this  against the NDDC Act and consequently cannot chair the commission. Senator Henry Seriake  who raised the issue, said that the NDDC Act must be respected against the backdrop that some persons nominated are not fit because they are not from the oil producing areas and if not checked, persons from non oil producing areas would be dragged to form the board, just as he stressed the issue of indigeneship, adding that one cannot talk about the NDDC without the people. Senator Seriake Dickson said, “I would like to know your local Government in Delta state and your community and whether to the best of your knowledge the community you come from is an oil producing community or it has oil facilities located therein.”

The Chairman who interjected said, “Mrs nominee you have heard the question put to you. Just take your time. I am ready and we are all ready to discuss this during our executive session so I want to plead with all our senators here to allow her for now. We will talk during the Executive session.” At this point, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said, “the essence of this comment is to clarify the position of the Senate on this matter. On the nominee for the Chairmanship position, when we had a reason to turn down the presidential nomination of this same nominee in the Senate, just because the position for which she was nominated was the position of an electoral umpire and there where members of the public who were concerned that because she is a card carrying member of a political party and a presidential aide and in the Senate committee on Electoral matters we took into cognisance the concern of the public.

“Today in the Senate we are faced with a different scenario. She has been nominated as a representative from an oil producing state and for the purpose of holding a political appointment for which is eligibly qualified. That is our position and I wanted the public to be clear on this.” Also speaking on the matter, Senator James Manager, said, “this is one nominee we rejected on the floor of the Senate we rarely reject nominees from the president but this was done. Now this person is here again before the Senate. I want the public to know that this one is an isolated case, in an executive session we will discuss it. We will look at the petitions.

Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on new Media and the Nominee for the position of Chairman, board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mrs Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie has said that the members will work as a team for the development of the oil producing region. Speaking in Abuja when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs for the screening, Onochie said that she believes in working in synergy with others in order to achieve  results. She said, ” I hail from a community that produces all kinds of agricultural products that have not been properly harnessed. These are some of things we will work on to be able to bring food to the table of our people and to empower our people. Since the announcement of my nomination I have received thousand of applications from our young people wanting to be personal assistants because that is all they know. We are going to show them that there is more to life than being a personal assistant. We are going to show them how to be properly empowered so that our region can start booming like all the other regions.

“I  have seen the men that I have been nominated along with. We have been in contact with each other. We are going to work as a team because I am a team player.” Onochie introduced herself to the members at 11.39 am and the screening is holding in Room 224. The Screening was  handled by both the Senate and the House of Representatives Committees on Niger Delta Affairs and that of NDDC. On his part, the Managing Director Nominee from Bayelsa State, said, “I believe I am the square peg in the square hole to man the position of the MD because I understand the problems of our people. I have been part of the Niger Delta struggle, I am  presently working as Special Assistant to the Deputy Senate President. I will bridge the gap between the youths  and the elderly, in my experience in activism and administration I believe I am going to bring a positive change in the Niger Delta.

“We are thankful to the President for completing the forensic audit of the NDDC, I believe we are going to use that as a guide to usher in a new dawn in NDDC.” Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Bulus Amos, who presided following the absence of the Chairman, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, said that this time for the development of the region, the NDDC must be put in order against the backdrop that for quite a long period, the non composition of the  board has affected the growth of the region. Senator  Amos said, “recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had on 25th November written the Senate, seeking the confirmation of his  Special Assistant on new Media, Lauretta Onochie from Delta as Chairman of NDDC. We know that for quite sometimes the Niger Delta Development Commission has been a big place for each and everyone and everybody is desperate is desperate to follow what is happening there. Probably that is what has informed the large crowd outside. Everybody wants to know what we are doing here. We are doing nothing here than to screen those people that have been nominated.”

On her part, Stella Oduah, said, “Nigeria women are particularly happy that the president did what he did by appointing a female, very capable woman to help this wonderful and relevant agency of Niger Delta. Whether we like it or not, when a woman comes in, her innate skills, her multitasking ability. I believe that for the first time Niger Deltans will have the required development that they so much are in need of. I thank Mr President for this nomination.” Also speaking, the Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, said, “We need to be more guided, we have appointed a chairman from our state that is not from the local government where they produce oil, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, and nobody can tell us to reject this one.” Meanwhile, the Nominee from Ondo State for the position of Executive Director, Projects, Charles Ogunmola was rejected by the three Senators and members of House of Representatives from the state. The resolution of the lawmakers was made known to the Committee by Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, PDP, Ondo South against the backdrop that the nominee is from Owo, a non oil producing area of the state. 

Chief Samuel Ogbuku,  the Managing Director nominee, Major General Charles Airhiavbere, retd  the Executive Director, Finance nominee; Dimgba Erugba; Elder Dimaro Denyabofa,  State Representative, Bayelsa State, South -South; Hon. Gbenga Edema,  State Representative, Ondo State, South – West; Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, (Zonal Representative, Adamawa State, North-East, among others were asked to take a bow and go.

The letter was read by Lawan on the floor of the Senate during plenary.

Buhari’s letter had  read thus,  “Dear Distinguished Senate President, confirmation of appointments of Chairman and members of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

“In accordance with the provisions of Section 2(2)A of the NDDC Act, Cap N86, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, I hereby present the underlisted 15 names of nominees as Chairman and members of the NDDC for confirmation by the Senate. Copies of their Curriculum Vitae are attached herewith.

“While I hope the request would receive the usual expeditious consideration, and confirmation of the Senate, Please accept the Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Other members of the NDDC board as forwarded to the Senate are Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu as State Representative, Edo State, South -South; Dimgba Erugba (State Representative, Abia, South-East); Dr. Emem Wilcos Wills, State Representative, Akwa Ibom, South -South; Elder Dimaro Denyabofa,  State Representative, Bayelsa State, South -South;  Hon. Orok Duke, State Representative, Cross River, South-South;  Engineer Anthony Okanne,  State Representative, Imo State, South-East and Hon. Gbenga Edema,  State Representative, Ondo State, South – West.

Others are  Elekwachi Dinkpa, State Representative, Rivers State, South-South;  Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Abubakar, ( Zonal Representative, Nasarawa State, North-Central; Alhaji Sule Iko Sadeeq Sani Sami (Zonal Representative, Kebbi State, North-West; and Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, (Zonal Representative, Adamawa State, North-East.