•Chief Timipre Sylva, Bayelsa APC governorship candidate
By SAM JONES
YENAGOA (Sundiata Post) – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has hinted that it would support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, former Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, in Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State.
Sylva, who governed Bayelsa State between 2007 and 2012, is contesting the governorship election for the second time under the APC after he was denied ticket for a second term by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011.
A reception last Saturday in honour of NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, at his maternal community, Oruma in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state became a political rally following political comments by chairman and managing director of the commission.
Ogbuku was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Yiba-Ama (Oruma) Tugbeni Land, the second title to be conferred on him by his mother’s people, the first came when he was incarcerated at Okaka Correctional Centre sometime in 2014.
Acceptance Speech
In his acceptance speech, Ogbuku said: “I want you to understand that this is a reception in honour of myself and it was not a political rally. But, if the colouration from the presentation of my chairman and the atmosphere paint it as politics, you will not blame him and you will not blame me too because all of us at the governing board of NDDC are members of APC.
“So, if an APC person goes to a place, you will also expect that APC members will join them to welcome him. That is why you see the image that way.
“Since my chairman did a lot of politicking he was inspired to do that and whatever my chairman says, I want you to understand that I stand by my chairman.”
Ogbuku made the statement while occupying the podium with all members of the NDDC governing board who were present at the reception in his honour.
Sylva is the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the election and Ogbuku had served under him in several capacities in the past including as Chief of Staff, Government House when the former was governor between 2007 and 2012.
While assuring the Niger Delta region that the board was committed to the development of the region, he commended President Bola Tinubu for picking the best brains to be members of the NDDC board.
NDDC Board
The composition of the board includes former members of the House of Representatives, former senators and a former leader of the senate, a former secretary to Delta State Government and a former commissioner, which he described as the best team NDDC ever had.
Ogbuku said the honour done him was an expectation for more development, saying, “It’s for more a0 responsibility. My conduct positively or negatively will also tell on this community. So, it’s a very big responsibility and honour.
“I have decided that my team should come and join me because without their support there is no way I can meet up the expectation of my people. We have collectively agreed that we are going to give back to this community and Ogbia Local Government development. We have also collectively agreed that we are going to transform the Niger Delta region. That is why I thought it necessary that we all make this acceptance speech together.
“I am assuring you that with this team we are committed to transforming the Niger Delta. Though they say charity begin at home, so we will start from home first. I am very committed to the development of this community. The honour you did for me before is much more than today.
“Let me tell you publicly, when I was politically incarcerated and arrested in 2014 and locked up in Okaka prison for eight months, while I was there because of state government influence, some persons even found it difficult to come and see me. Some communities were even avoiding me, but this same, my mother’s community conferred on me the first chieftaincy title. This is an act that, no matter what happened, they stood by me.”
More Projects for Bayelsa
Earlier, chairman of the occasion, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, who is also the chairman of NDDC board said, “With your continued support by bringing a new government to Bayelsa State, more roads, more development will come to Ogbia land.”
Represented by Hon. Victor Antai, NDDC Executive Director, Projects, he said Sylva would take Bayelsa to the centre and “bring overall development to the state. I know Ogbia will give 100 percent votes to Chief Timipre Sylva, the candidate of All Progressives Congress in the November 11 governorship election in the state.”
He described Ogbuku as a visionary and dedicated individual whose contribution to the development of Niger Delta region is commendable.
“We are privileged to have him as MD/CEO, a position that reflects his commitment and fostering growth, prosperity and unity of the Niger Delta region. As a united team in NDDC, Mr. Ogbuku will work tirelessly to bring about meaningful development and progress not only to Niger Delta, but also to Tugbeni Land. The land of my MD’s mother has a special place in the heart of my MD”, he stated.
The community in its welcome address read by the chairman of the planning committee, Chief Lawson Iberebo on behalf of the traditional ruler, King Peter Amakiri, said the reception and the chieftaincy title were as a result of his contribution towards the development of Niger Delta within the short period in office.
“Yiba-Ama, his maternal home, sometime honoured him with a chieftaincy title, Ama Tondi 1 of Tugbeni Land, meaning the one that lights up the community. Surprisingly just after his appointment as the MD of NDDC, solar light is now shining in almost in every community. This is a man with an open heart who loves the region”
Mrs. Alayingi Uduak Sylva, wife of the APC candidate, was present at the occasion, which drew a large crowd from other Ogbia communities.
