Ministerial Nominations: N/Delta Youth Group applauds Buhari

The Niger Delta Youths Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP) on Friday applauded the nomination of credible people from the Niger Delta region as Ministers.

Mr Kenedy Tonjo-West, Board of Trustee Chairman for NDYCPP who spoke in an interview in Yenagoa noted that the nominees from the region all have verifiable records of performance.

“We comment the President and congratulate Senator Godswill Akpabio, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Timipre Sylva and Mr Festus Keyamo for making the Ministerial list.

“Ex-Gov Sylva’s nomination particularly elicited commendation across party lines as incumbent Gov Dickson extended congratulations to him and this is all good for the region.

“We are optimistic that they will continue their public service efforts to bring development to the Niger Delta region as well as make meaningful contributions to the Federal Executive Council.

“However, we are surprised at the non-reappointment of Dr Ibe Kachikwu, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who worked round the clock to ensure stability and peace in the region at a time there was crisis.

“Oil production dipped and prices were low in the international energy market but Kachikwu brought peace and oil production rose from about 900,000 barrels per day in 2016 to over 2 million barrels currently.

“Kachikwu also got a favourable output quota for Nigeria in the oil cartel, Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries and we thought that his expertise as a technocrate will be handy to the federal government.

“We were witnesses of his sterling performance in the oil and gas sector and felt that he ought to be reappointed on merit, but we are also ware of the limitations the President has especially when there are many qualified for the job,” Tonjo-West said.

The youth leader applauded the emerging cross party relations amongst the political class exemplified by Gov Seriake Dickson’s endorsement of Ex-Gov Timipre Sylva as a Ministerial nominee.

Dickson had congratulated Sylva on his nomination and urged National Assembly members from Bayelsa across party lines to support Sylva’s nomination by President Muhamadu Buhari.

He noted that the region would be better off if the leaders looked beyond party lines and closed ranks to work for the development of the region.

On the forthcoming party primaries ahead the Nov 16 guber poll in Bayelsa, Tonjo-West urged the parties to conduct credible primaries that will be fair to all in an atmosphere devoid of violence.

He advised parties fielding candidates to ensure a level playing field where everyone will play according to the rules.