Abuja was alive with fervor as demonstrators rallied against President Bola Tinubu’s selection of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Asu Okang, as the Cross River State representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board. The uproar follows a similar protest in Calabar just a day prior.
Tinubu recently sanctioned a new NDDC board and management team, but the decision to place Okang, a PDP member, on the NDDC board for Cross River State ignited outrage among APC supporters. They voiced their discontent, asserting that it’s unjust for a PDP member to enjoy the benefits of their hard work.
Led by the Cross River APC Stakeholders group, the Abuja protest unfolded with resounding chants and eye-catching banners that declared, “Asu Okang is not APC,” “Cross River Belongs to APC, not PDP,” and “Reject Asu Okang as NDDC Commissioner.” Marching peacefully from the Unity Fountain to the National Assembly, the protesters conveyed their plea.
Bukkie Okangbe, the group’s leader, addressed the press and appealed to the President to acknowledge their loyalty. She urged the withdrawal of Okang’s appointment and proposed allowing the state governor to make the decision.
“We’re here to deliver a message to both the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu: injustice won’t stand. This period is marked by injustices towards Cross River, and we won’t stay silent. We’ll keep protesting until our voices are heard,” Okangbe emphasized.
She continued, “While assigning the NDDC slot to one of our fellow Cross River citizens isn’t inherently bad, we believe in rewarding those who’ve put in the effort. It’s not fitting for someone who opposed the APC to reap its benefits. We firmly reject Asu Okang’s NDDC position and will persist until justice is served. We have numerous well-qualified APC stalwarts in Cross River who should represent us in the NDDC. These are the individuals who should be chosen, not outsiders from another party. Therefore, we reject this NDDC slot for Cross River.”
Okangbe concluded by highlighting the role of the Cross River governor in resolving the issue: “If our leader, the Cross River State governor, were making the call, we wouldn’t be here today. We’d accept it. But until the governor’s influence is felt, we’ll continue pushing for the right outcome. Enough of the injustices against Cross River State.”
The new NDDC board and management team, comprising notable members, was also disclosed:
- Chiedu Ebie – Chairman (Delta)
- Samuel Ogbuku – Managing Director/CEO (Bayelsa)
- Boma Iyaye – Executive Director of Finance and Admin (Rivers)
- Victor Antai – Executive Director of Projects (Akwa-Ibom)
- Ifedayo Abegunde – Executive Director for Corporate Services (Ondo)
- Dimaro Denyanbofa – State Representative (Bayelsa)
- Abasi Ndikan Nkono – State Representative (Akwa Ibom)
- Monday Igbuya – State Representative (Delta)
- Tony Okocha – State Representative (Rivers)
Plus more esteemed representatives from various states and zones.
This vivid protest reflects the Cross River APC Stakeholders’ determination to uphold their party’s principles and strive for fairness in political appointments.