Members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), whose tenure expires this December are lobbying the Presidency for a six-month extension.
And they are spending heavily to achieve success, Elendu Reports has gathered.
According to sources with knowledge of the intrigues surrounding the appointment of a new board, three powerful ministers from the Niger Delta region are also manoeuvring to have their surrogates take over the interventionist agency.
It also believed that the deputy senate president has joined in the manoeuvring. He wants one of his associates to head the board.
The ministers are pushing for another interim management contraption to oversee the operations of NDDC.
This arrangement was criticised by stakeholders who have vowed to resist any attempt to foist another management that contravenes the Act setting up the agency.
The Prof. Pondei led IMC started a full-course media campaign last week as part of its tenure extension efforts.
Pondei had written a widely circulated opinion piece where he outlined his vision for the agency which he has led since February 2020, with its most outstanding performance being scandal on national television.
The current EDFA, Effiong Akwa, is being positioned to take over as acting managing director while another individual from Rivers state is being slated for the sole administrator of the NDDC. They are being sponsored by ministers from their states.
Joseph Ambakederimo, a civil rights activist in Warri, Delta State reacted angrily to the speculation. “It cannot happen, what, another Interim management arrangement? No way. They cannot take us for granted like that just because they want to please a few individuals,” he thundered.
“The Niger Delta people have supported this president. We have kept this place quiet and calm for him. Let no one take us for granted. We are neither cowards nor fools. We shall not accept any interim arrangement for NDDC. It is strange to the Act.”