The former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the former Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who resigned their appointments to pursue their presidential ambitions have shifted their focus to battle over the control of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) after failing in their presidential bid.
The NDDC has been under an interim management since October, 2019. But according to the Nation newspaper, President Muhammadu Buhari, last week hinted that a new board for the commission will be announced soon.
As a result of their battle over supremacy, Akpabio and Amaechi are said to be scheming to have their candidates occupy key positions in the new NDDC board.
Other prominent leaders from the South-South who are also trying to influence the appointment of the NDDC board are the Minister of petroleum, Timipreye Sylva and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-agege.
According to Nation,the key positions they are trying to influence its appointment are the managing director and the finance director.
According to the report, Amaechi is trying to use his closeness to the President and the Aso rock cabal to get his candidate from Rivers State to occupy the position of the managing director as a rehabilitation for failing to clinch the APC presidential ticket.
Akpabio is believed to be rooting for Denyabofa Dimaro, Omo-agege is supporting Sam Mgbuku. The odds against Akpabio’s candidate is that he is over 76 years old and may not be able to handle the rigours of the office.
Timipreye Sylva on the other hand it was gathered is rooting for Maxwell Oko. However stakeholders are accusing Sylva of nepotism because Oko is his kinsmen from Bayelsa State.
It was also gathered that Sylva worked out a plan B in the face of mounting opposition by seeking an alliance with Omo-agege so that his nominee will be considered as the finance director while Omo-agege’s nominee will occupy the managing director position.