CHAIRMAN, Caretaker Committee of Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), Dr. Tabs Ogaranya-Tabowei has said Ndokwa land will witness speedy development with a strong NNU.
According to him, “nobody is disputing the fact that NNU is the apex socio-cultural organisation of Ndokwa people, what we are committed to doing, is making the body stronger, so that at all times, our people will speak with one voice.
“We are already working to strenghten NNU so that individuals with strong leadership traits and strong commitment to Ndokwa affairs will take over the affairs of the NNU.
“We are uniting all Ndokwas no matter their belief; the only sentiment we should have now is Ndokwa unity; individual interests should be set aside.”
Answering questions about the legality of the Caretaker Committee, Tabowei who addressed newsmen at Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, stated, “the constitution did not envisage a situation where tenure of the executive would elapse without another executive to take over; members of the Caretaker Committee did not nominate themselves, we were called by eminent Ndokwa sons and daughters including members of the Board of Trustees of NNU to come in based on doctrine of necessity; our interest is that this is not the time to be rigid with the constitution but, as true and committed Ndokwas, we should put our heads together and get it right.
“The Committee is working, we have reached out to members of the Electoral Committee which was set up before we came on board, we are reaching out to all Ndokwa sons and daughters including different groups; nobody or group will be sidelined, we have to get it right, midwife an acceptable executive.”
Dr. Tabowei also spoke about the threat by the Youth Wing of the socio-cultural organisation to cripple oil facilities if the Federal Government fails to meet with their demands of developing the area.
He said, “was their demand genuine? If yes, then the Federal Government should act fast.
“If as far back as 1905, Kwale was recognised to have a Prison, now Correctional Centre, it is a disservice to the people that more than a century after, that the Correctional Centre and Police Station are the only presence of the Federal Government in the area despite the area funding federal government’s activities with its heavy deposit of oil and gas.
“There is no Federal Government’s presence in the area apart from the extortion going on; extortion because you cannot justify the fact that there is an Independent Power Plant generating electricity to other parts of the country, yet, the people live in darkness, money is made from the area and used to construct roads, develop institutions in other areas, yet, non is in Ndokwa land.
“There is a saying that you do not neglect the goose that lays the golden eggs, our people have suffered in silence for so long and the Federal Government should act fast because, the ultimatum by the youths is running out; if they act, the whole country can be thrown into darkness, not to talk about shortage of revenue from oil and gas.”
