Skip to main content

Ijaw Publishers Forum Petitions Tinubu, Seeks Probe of NDDC Boss Ogbuku,


By EgbemaVoice,

The apex Ijaw media council ,the Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) in Nigeria, has written to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to institute a probe into the financial recklessness of the managing director of the Niger Delta development Commission,NDDC and the entire board, stating that NDDC had been turned to ATM machine for a few.
This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesman of the Ijaw Publishers Forum, Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State, on Monday.

The media council further called on prominent Niger Delta leaders to prevail on the Ogbuku led NDDC management to give stewardship of the trillions accrued to the commission over the period of his administration.

The Ijaw apex media organization said the probe had become imperative considering the non- impactful programs the commission is rerunning to siphon money belonging to the people of Niger Delta to their individual pockets.

IPF said Ogbuku is not interested in lifting Niger Delta region out of poverty, underdevelopment but very interesting in littering the region with abandoned projects and substandard programs.

The forum said despite the trillions accrued to the NDDC for the period of Ogbuku led administration, there was no rural electricity, drinkable water, good roads, bridges to connect rural communities to the urban cities, and an adequate health care centre among
among Niger Delta rural and riverine communities.

The forum also lamented that there was no any riverine community being connected to the national grid rather Ogbuku keeps installing low cost street solar lights that have no value in the lives of the people in a selective manner.

IPF insisted that NDDC fake programs such as Project Hope, NDDC Youth Internship Scheme, Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines, and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) should be probed, adding that they were not impactful but a medium of syphoning the Commission's Treasury.

The media council further added that Ogbuku was not working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's interest in winning the Niger Delta's support, but only interested in becoming the next governor of Bayelsa State.

The Ijaw Publishers' said Ogbuku was doing selective empowerment of boys that were loyal to him, political leaders he feels will support him for his political ambition, his numerous girl friends and his Ayakoro community.

According to them, Tinubu's re-election bid would suffer a terrible setback if Ogbuku-led NDDC management was not called to order, adding that many Niger Delta youth and communities were already angry at Tinubu for imposing Ogbuku on the throat of the commission and its people.

Reads full petition, .....

The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF)
Apex Media Council of the Ijaw Nation
 Petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Institute a Probe into the Financial Recklessness and Mismanagement of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Under the Leadership of Mr. Samuel Ogbuku

His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock Presidential Villa
Abuja, Nigeria

Date: Monday, 22nd July, 2025

Your Excellency,

We, the undersigned members of the Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF), the apex media council of the Ijaw Nation, humbly submit this petition to draw your attention to the ongoing mismanagement, financial recklessness, and selective governance practices under the leadership of the current Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Samuel Ogbuku, and the entire board of the Commission.

We respectfully request that Your Excellency institute an immediate and thorough investigation into the administration and activities of the NDDC, which we believe has been reduced to a private "ATM machine" for a select few, rather than a regional development agency for the benefit of the entire Niger Delta.

Grounds for Our Petition:

1. Lack of Transparency and Accountability:
Despite the trillions of naira accrued to the NDDC under the leadership of Mr. Ogbuku, there is no visible or meaningful impact on the lives of Niger Deltans. Rural communities continue to suffer due to the absence of basic infrastructure such as:

.Rural electricity and connection to the national grid,
.Access to clean and drinkable water
.Good road networks and bridges
.Functional and accessible healthcare centres

2. Widespread Abandonment and Substandard Projects:
Mr. Ogbuku's tenure has been characterized by numerous abandoned projects, the installation of low-cost, non-functional solar streetlights in a selective manner, and a general lack of interest in transformative development. These superficial projects do not address the real needs of the people.

3. Fraudulent Programs and Schemes:
The IPF strongly believes that schemes such as Project Hope, the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme, and the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines, and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) are merely instruments for siphoning public funds. These initiatives lack transparency, community participation, or measurable outcomes, and should be thoroughly audited.

4. Political Ambition Over Public Service:
It has become clear that Mr. Ogbuku is more interested in advancing his political ambition to become the next Governor of Bayelsa State than in genuinely serving the people of the Niger Delta. He is reportedly using NDDC resources for selective empowerment, favoring political loyalists, girlfriends, and individuals from his community of Ayakoro, instead of implementing inclusive and equitable development across the region.

5. Threat to Your Re-election Prospects:
We are deeply concerned that the continued imposition of Mr. Ogbuku upon the NDDC and the people of the Niger Delta could erode the support base of Your Excellency in the region. Many communities and youths are already disenchanted, feeling marginalized and betrayed. Unless urgent corrective steps are taken, this may pose serious political consequences for Your Excellency's 2027 re-election bid.

Our Demands:

That a Presidential Panel or EFCC-led investigative team be constituted to thoroughly probe the finances, programs, contracts, and activities of the NDDC under Mr. Samuel Ogbuku.

That all fraudulent and unexecuted projects be accounted for, and contractors involved be prosecuted.

That stewardship be rendered to the people of the Niger Delta, detailing how the trillions received by NDDC have been utilized during Mr. Ogbuku’s tenure.

That immediate steps be taken to restructure the NDDC leadership and return it to a path of transparent, people-focused, and impactful development.

Your Excellency, we trust in your administration’s commitment to transparency, equity, and justice. We urge you to act now to save the NDDC and redeem your image among the people of the Niger Delta.

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long Live the Niger Delta Region.
Long Live President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Respectfully submitted,

Comrade Austin Ozobo 
President Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF)

Comrade Tare maegbe secretary Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF),

Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala
Spokesman, Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF)
On behalf of the Ijaw Publishers' Forum

Comments

EV__News Editor pick

EYC Worldwide President Barr. Sode Visits High Chief Peregbe Dekpen, Signatory to Toru-Ebe State Demand

EYC Worldwide President Visits Chief Peregbe Dekpen, Signatory to Toru-Ebe State Demand By EgbemaVoice, The President of the Egbema Youth Council (EYC) Worldwide, Barr. Amatelemowei A. Sode, paid a courtesy visit to High Chief Peregbe Dekpen at his residence in Yenagoa. High Chief Dekpen former Egbema kingdom regency council secretary is one of the prominent signatories to the historic document advocating for the creation of Toru-Ebe State—a long-standing aspiration of the Ijaw people and other Niger Delta stakeholders seeking equity and true federalism in Nigeria. The visit underscores the commitment of the EYC leadership to connect with foundational stakeholders and to reaffirm support for the actualization of Toru-Ebe State, which has remained a legitimate and enduring pursuit. God bless Egbema Kingdom. God bless the Ijaw Nation.

Focus Egbema Group (FEG) Backs Egbema Youth Council’s 30-Day Ultimatum, Urges NDDC to Complete Abandoned Udo-Ofunama Road Project

Focus Egbema Group (FEG) Backs Egbema Youth Council’s 30-Day Ultimatum, Urges NDDC to Complete Abandoned Udo-Ofunama Road Project By EgbemaVoice, The Focus Egbema Group (FEG) has declared full support for the 30-day ultimatum issued by the Egbema Youth Council (EYC) to the Edo State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over the long-abandoned Udo-Ofunama Road project in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State. The road project, originally awarded in 2011 by the NDDC under former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's administration, remains incomplete to this day. As an apex socio-cultural organization advocating for the development of Egbema Kingdom across Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Imo States, FEG has called on the current NDDC board to immediately mobilize contractors back to the site. The group specifically appealed to the NDDC chairman to avoid politicizing the project, stressing that the suffering of the people due to the proj...

Constitution Review – Ijaw Proposals as a Panacea for Ethnic Tensions, True Federalism, and National Development,

–  INC Insists on Regionalism, Resource Ownership and New Constitution By EgbemaVoice  Yenagoa, Bayelsa State – July 19, 2025 In a stirring, uncompromising address at the South-South Zonal Public Hearing on the Constitution Review, the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) Global, Prof. Benjamin O. Okaba, delivered a historic speech that shook the foundations of Nigeria’s current political architecture. Declaring the 1999 Constitution (as amended) a “satanic document fraudulently foisted on Nigerians,” Prof. Okaba demanded sweeping constitutional changes including true federalism, Resource Control, and the immediate creation of Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers States, as well as 33 additional Local Government Areas for Bayelsa State. Speaking on behalf of one of Nigeria’s most marginalised yet resource-rich ethnic groups, the Ijaw leader boldly asserted that unless critical constitutional corrections are made, Nigeria’s unity will remain fragile, and the Ijaw people may be forc...

Local Government Chairman in Niger State, wore a full Army uniform to accompany Nigerian Army troops into the forest to fight bandits in his local Government.

Local Government Chairman in Niger State, wore a full Army uniform to accompany Nigerian Army troops into the forest to fight bandits in his local Government. ‎According to a post by his Media Aide, Muhammad Sale, on July 19, 2025, the Chairman of Rijau Local Government Area in Niger State, Hon. Danladi K. Uganda, was seen wearing full military camouflage while accompanying Nigerian Army troops deep into the forests of Rijau an area that has suffered repeated attacks from armed criminals. ‎ ‎The chairman joined soldiers and other security operatives on the front lines in a bold move aimed at combating banditry and supporting ongoing security operations. ‎ ‎This courageous action has drawn widespread praise from residents and observers alike, who see it as a powerful act of solidarity with both the military and the local communities affected by insecurity.

PANDEF Chairman Renews Call for True Federalism, Power Devolution, and Regional Autonomy,

CHAIRMAN, PAN NIGER DELTA FORUM (PANDEF), ON THE CALL FOR-TRUE-FEDERALISM, POWER DEVOLUTION, AND REGIONAL AUTONOMY True Federalism the Only Path to National Unity and Development – PANDEF Chairman, Amb. Godknows-Boladei Igali Calls for Power Devolution and Regional Autonomy to Rescue Nigeria from Structural Dysfunction, By EgbemaVoice,  Abuja, Nigeria  The Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows-Boladei Igali, has reiterated the Forum’s unwavering demand for the urgent restructuring of Nigeria. Speaking at the PANDEF National Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum, the respected diplomat and elder statesman emphasized that only the implementation of true federalism, power devolution, and regional autonomy could resolve Nigeria’s deep-rooted governance challenges. Unitary Governance Structure is Unsustainable In his keynote address, Ambassador Igali criticized Nigeria’s current political structure, which he described as a centralized system mas...

Group Raises Alarm Over Alleged Interference in Warri Gun Trial, Accuses Remi Tinubu, Dazi Danjuma in Letter to Tinubu, DSS, NSA, Police,

Warri gun trafficking trial: Group writes open letter to Tinubu, NSA, DSS, Police, International Community, Accuses Remi Tinubu, Dazi Danjuma of Interference, manipulations  By EgbemaVoice, An advocacy group under the auspices of Niger Delta Watchmen has written an open letter to the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Security Adviser, NSA, the Department of Security Services, Nigerians and the international community, expressing fears of possible coverup or moves to bury under carpet, the gun trafficking trial of COLLINS EDEMA, MAJOR MICA POLO AND OTHERS, where the Olu of Warri was accused of aiding and abating. This was contained in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Kelvin Kevwe, and Workman J. Sylvester Secretary, which was earlier published in some online media platforms on Sunday. The group raised serious fears over growing concerns about the increasing collusion and corruption that were enabling criminal elements to thrive within our borders, emphasising t...

Celebrating a Youth Icon: Birthday Wishes to Comr. Barry Ebidinana, PRO, Polobubo Welfare Association,_____ Comr. Alfred

Heartfelt Birthday Wishes to My Dear Uncle, Comr. Barry Ebidinana, P.R.O., Polobubo Welfare Association (a.k.a. King of the Youth) By EgbemaVoice, On this special day, I, Amb. Tebekemi Henry Alfred, join family, friends, and well-wishers in celebrating an exceptional man — Comrade Barry Ebidinana, fondly known as “King of the Youth” and the esteemed Public Relations Officer of the Polobubo Welfare Association (Host Community). Uncle Barry, you are more than a leader — you are a father figure, a dependable brother, a loyal friend, and above all, a selfless and youth-loving personality. Your humility, passion, and relentless commitment to empowering others — especially the younger generation — continue to inspire us all. On your birthday, I pray that God blesses you abundantly with long life, divine health, inner peace, and even greater wisdom. May your light shine ever brighter, and may your leadership and compassionate heart be richly rewarded. Happy Birthday once again, Si...

PEACEFUL PROTEST BY RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS: POLICE SETS RECORDS STRAIGHT, ASSURES OF SECURITY, PRESERVATION OF DIGNITY

‎‎PRESS RELEASE ‎ PEACEFUL PROTEST BY RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS: POLICE SETS RECORDS STRAIGHT, ASSURES OF SECURITY, PRESERVATION OF DIGNITY ‎ ‎The Nigeria Police Force has noted the ongoing conversations surrounding the peaceful protest being organised by some of our retired officers in relation to their pension entitlements. While some of these accounts are grounded in fact and driven by good faith, others have been marred by misinformation, emotional manipulation, and calculated distortions designed to discredit the Government and undermine the present leadership of the Nigeria Police Force. It is disheartening to observe how certain actors have chosen to politicise a sensitive welfare issue, weaponizing the legitimate grievances of our retired colleagues for ulterior motives. Their intent is not reform, but disruption. Their tactics involve twisting facts, inflaming sentiments, and sowing distrust in the public space. These actions do a disservice not only to our noble ins...

Ijaw leader, Agedigha to bury mother Friday July 25,

By EgbemaVoice, The chairman of Delta State scholarship/Bursary Board will bury his beloved late mother Mama Binkayai Enerekremi, the Amakosuere of Sokebolou community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State on Friday July 25, 2025. The Ijaw leader who was an immediate past executive director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC has been thrown into mourning by the demise of his beloved mother, though, she died at 104 years but the impact of her legacy still rings around him and others. Congress had earlier reported that mama Binkayai Enerekremi passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 104 years. She is survived by 3 Children, 22 Grand Children, 24 Great Grand Children, 2 Great Great Grand Children. It was gathered that until her death, she was the Amakosuere of the Sokebolou community in the Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. According to the burial arrangements, service of songs would be held on 24th July, 2025 in her ...