A group under the umbrella of South-South Emerging Leaders Forum (SELF) has threatened to drag the Minister of Niger Delta, Umana Umana, to court for violating the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The President had relieved the Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Effiong Akwa, of his position and directed the most senior director in the commission to oversee the running of its affairs.
But the Minister announced Mr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua to perform the duties of the Managing Director in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Managing Director and members of the Governing Board.
However, a statement issued Thursday by the coordinator of the group, Preye Johnson, alleged that the director appointed by the Minister to succeed the sacked administrator was not the most senior as directed by the President.
The development, the group said, was capable of causing unnecessary confusion in the NDDC over the appointment of a new Sole Administrator.
The group claimed there were two most senior directors ahead of the appointed candidate.
The group explained that it made the call because the appointment of Audu-Ohwavborua was contrary to the directive of the President.
To this end, the group threatened to drag the Minister to court if he does not do the right thing based on the directive of the President.
It said: “As a frontline forum of professionals in the Niger Delta, we are using this medium to call on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, to do the right thing and avoid unnecessary confusion at the NDDC by appointing the most senior director as directed by Mr. President.”
“We also warn that if the right thing is not done we shall have no option than to approach the Court of Law to correct the injustice.”
