President Muhammadu Buhari has received praise from the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) for dismissing Dr. Efiong Akwa, the interim administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In a statement, Peter Timothy Igbifa, the president of the IYC, expressed the group's joy over Buhari's decision to put an end to the practise of interim governments in the NDDC.
Igbifa claimed that the circumstance had rendered the commission helpless and prevented equal participation by all member states in the interventionist agency's functions as intended by the Act creating it.
He claimed that Buhari's directive to promptly reorganise the NDDC board in accordance with the Act was long overdue.
While acknowledging that it was better late than never, Igbifa recalled that the IYC led by him had through various actions bemoaned the draconian leadership style introduced in NDDC and called for a substantive board.
He urged Buhari’s aides to urgently swing into action to carry out his directives on the reconstitution of the commission’s board.
“Now that the President has given a marching order, we only hope that those saddled with the responsibility of implementing it will act fast to save the image of the President.
“We have noticed in the past how the President’s orders were disregarded by his aides, who were more concerned about protecting their personal interests than the national interests with total disregard to the image of their principal.”