NDDC JOB: DAN ABIA FAVOURED BY PRESIDENCY

He is a man of good character and conscience----- Niger Delta Stakeholders

Indications has emerged that the presidency has finally decided to hand over the MD/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission to Barr Dan Abia and the announcement may be made any moment from now. THE INK gathered that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had after a careful study of the curriculum vitae of the Esit Eket born administrator settle for him for the job. Dan Abia it could be recalled had served the people of the Niger Delta meritoriously ever since he was appointed to serve in different capacities in the board. His meritorious service saw him rose to the rank of an acting chairman before the board was dissolved.

 A presidency source told our correspondent that both the presidency and the senate committee on NDDC are appreciative of both the CV of Abia and his giant contributions to the affairs of the Niger Delta People and hence have settled on him to emerge the next MD of the body. The senate committee of the NDDC through one of the members of the committee has described Abia as a leader who understands his responsibilities, and a man of good character and conscience. Our source stated that with the few months Abia served as the acting MD of the body, he was able to reposition NDDC and made it stood the test of time. He added that, it was not difficult for the committee to convince the senate president and other members of the senate to support the emergence of Abia to that position. It is believed that soon the name of Barr Bassey Dan Abia will be announced by the Presidency as the man that will preside over the affairs of the NDDC for the next administrative years.

Meanwhile, a body known as the Niger Delta professionals has described as spurious and baseless a petition from a faceless and fake group, Niger Delta Alliance which they described as seeking to tarnish the hard earned integrity of Barr Abia. The professionals maintained in a release signed by the President and Secretary, Dr Ibitroko Austin and Engr. Charles Ugonna respectively and made available to newsmen that any group of persons both real and imagined that seeks to attack the personality of Abia are doing so out of hatred and may be trying to justify their pay masters. The Niger Delta Professionals maintained that Abia is the best man for the job. The body however commended the Akwa Ibom state Governor Chief Godswill Akpabio for recommending Abia for the NDDC top job even as they added that the seasoned legal expert will not disappoint.

While urging the general public to discountenance any negative attack on Abia, the group urged detractors to desist from smearing the name of people who have contributed very meaningfully to the growth of the Niger Delta Region maintaining that the group called Niger Delta Alliance is a faceless group and their so called members are fictitious.

The Niger Delta Professionals have however warned the claimed Niger Delta Professionals to desist from insulting Abia as they know who their sponsor is.