Dan Abia: The Change NDDC needs

Times have changed, yes; unfortunately we shall have a depressed society with people who feel they can pull the nation back with their antics and crudities. It is indeed true that politicians calculate all the time. We must therefore not concern ourselves with the politics of politicians especially as concerning who should lead the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with who should emerge the new Managing Director. 

I refer to the plots by some persons who feel their waywardness can stop the President from doing the right thing in this appointment. Yes, the Presidency is of the opinion that the next MD of the Commission should be Akwa Ibom’s Sir Barr Bassey Dan Abia (KJW). This is because he has been there and understands the workings of the Commission, Abia knows where the shoe of the NDDC pinches and he is ready to do work as he has always done. 

An interaction with Abia exposed the fact that Abia has a passion, zeal, determination and character to transform the Niger Delta in line with the ongoing transformation of the nation by President Goodluck Jonathan. Times have changed for the group plotting to use blackmail against Abia as he gets close to lead the NDDC job.

Times have changed for them and what they should do at this point in time is to wake up to the realities of the change that Dan Abia represents.

We agree that the NDDC plays a very prominent role in our quest to restructure the Niger Delta Region and the country in general. To achieve this, we need a leader with integrity; we need a man of courage, dignity and substance to act as a catalyst to ensure that the deed is done. I mean the deed of transforming the Niger Delta Region.

Abia has been in the Niger Delta Region before; he understands its policies and knows the tedious responsibilities that are attached to the office of the MD of NDDC. For the opponents of Abia landing the NDDC job, it shows a lack of morals. The common agitation from Niger Deltans is that the region should be blessed with a leader and a prudent manager of resources both in personnel and finances to superintend the affairs of the NDDC as its MD/CEO.

 And Dan Abia is a man of conscience who fits perfectly into the leadership of the NDDC MD. It is an argument that makes sense that Dan Abia over the years has built for himself consistency; he has built for himself honesty and ability to manage people, resources and deliver with utmost accuracy. The point is that if Bassey Dan Abia was not a good material when he left the shores of NDDC briefly, Governor Godswill Akpabio would not have invited him to join his uncommon transformation squad.

And there is more. In the battle against poverty in the Niger Delta Region and the country as a whole, Barr. Abia stands tall. First is his outstanding credentials in human development irrespective of tribe; his interest in nation building is marvelous and even his critics cannot take that away from him. His efforts as an individual and as a government official on empowerment and creating of employment opportunities to the people are adequately admired. In the pantheon of great personalities in the Niger Delta Region, Barr. Abia has a reserved place. Not because he is in government but because his earnest desire to transform and contribute immensely and objectively to the Niger Delta has stood him out.

And therefore, it is foolhardy for people, group of persons either acting for themselves or a pay master somewhere to contemplate challenging the imminent appointment of Barr Abia as the next MD of NDDC. But that is the human nature: always against themselves. In many countries, the Niger Delta would be one of the most developed regions with all its resources in both human and natural. But the problem is poor management of those resources and most times, the right people are not put into the right place. Most times, some misfits who find themselves in positions of authorities end up spoiling the region and leaving it worse than they met it. And to worsen situations, our elites appear to be busy fighting themselves, throwing spanners into the field to create confusion.

This is the same thing that appears to be rearing its head. Why has the Niger Delta region grown into a Banana republic? For a long while, the Niger Delta Region appears to be fighting itself for supremacy sake. The supremacy battle is tearing us apart. It is the reason why we seem to own the resources and yet others are benefiting from it; ripping us of what is supposed to be ours. Sadly, we appear to be very sluggish to demand for a change.

We are however lucky that despite the atomistic nature we have found ourselves, we still have the courage, the dignity and the strength to look up and say at least that we have leaders we can bank on and look up to. One of such leaders is Barr. Bassey Dan Abia who is always ready for service whenever he is called upon to serve.

At this point, our dear President should not allow distracters to confuse him. Dr. Goodluck should as a matter of importance pay deaf ears to the unwarranted attack on Abia and go ahead to name him the MD of the NDDC job because he is the most fit for the job. Our region will be in for the better when we have people like Barr. Bassey Dan Abia in the helms of affairs. This is because he is tested, trusted and certified to manage and direct the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission as the CEO.

In times like this, what the Niger Delta Region needs is a personality of integrity, courage, wisdom, leadership acumen and a prudent manager of resources. Dan Abia represents this. He is best suitable for the NDDC top job.