Onochie: The Amazon destined for the summit
Love or hate his courageous and outspoken personality, there is no denying the fact that in the leadership equation, here in Nigeria and elsewhere in all democratic dispensations, loyalty and commitment to service pays off .
These factors of course come from character, hard work and passion for a cause in which you strongly believe. This may perhaps explain why the name of Lauretta Onochie makes her detractors shudder, all because she stood firm and strong with her unwavering loyalty to the cause of President Muhammad Buhari to promote integrity, service delivery of quality and gender equity, especially in the political arena.
In essence, this would also explain why the leadership of the Niger Delta Project, PND, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for responding to the calls of the good people of the Niger Delta. This is precisely the case in the recent appointment of men and women of proven integrity to form the board of directors of the controversial Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
It should be noted that despite the deluge of verbal attacks that followed her pledge to clean up new media, which she led as the president's senior special assistant, she remained resolute. She therefore acted as a beacon against a dark backdrop of innuendo and unproven insinuations, even from some of her own people in the Niger Delta.
On the other hand, others, like PND members, recognize its value. What this implies or proves is that President Buhari made this rare appointment beyond loyalty, competence. The confidence he has shown in Onochie, a graduate of Harvard University, University of Greenwich, University of Benin and University of Calabar, will surely allow her to prove her mettle again.< /p>
In fact, as the PND group rightly noted, the inauguration of the commission's substantive council was long overdue. Onochie's appointment has therefore revived the hopes of the people of the oil-rich region that the commission's lost glory will be restored under his wise watch.
Interestingly, Onochie, once approved by the Senate, becomes the fifth chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board of Directors and the first woman to do so. It's history in motion. His appointment comes about three years after the last chairman of the board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, was fired by the president on January 25, 2019. The senator was appointed in 2016.
It is also recorded that Onochie was a national commissioner appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but was rejected because her state, Delta, had already appointed a commissioner to the body electoral.
In retrospect, the NDDC was established in 2000 by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to accelerate the development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Former NDDC Board Chairs were Chief Onyema Ugochukwu of Abia State and Air Vice Marshal Larry Koinyan (rtd) of Bayelsa, as well as Senators Ewa-Henshaw and Victor Ndoma-Egba, all from Cross River State.
In a letter to Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Buhari also announced the appointment of 15 other NDDC board members. It should be recalled that in September 2008, President Umaru Yar'Adua (of blessed memory) announced the formation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) became a parastatal under the Ministry.
One of the statutory functions of the commission is human capacity development – training and educating the youth of the Niger Delta region. The goal is to curb militancy and the attendant destruction of life and property, while developing important infrastructure to promote the diversification and productivity of the region's economy.
Similar to the PND, the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari's decision to appoint Lauretta Onochie as Chairperson of the NDDC Board.< /p>
Chris Amadi is also appointed Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of NDDC, while Samuel Adjogbe, Engineer, becomes Acting Executive Director, Projects.
According to MOSIEND President Kennedy Tonjo West, because Onochie has worked closely with Buhari, he has no doubt that Onochie will implement the President's vision for the Niger Delta.
West said, "I think this is the first time we've had a woman chair of the board. It's a novel idea. But first, she's SA (special assistant) of the president and she does her job. And the kind of job as an SA, she will definitely do what her boss says.
"If you put that as a criterion, then I'm pretty sure that's what endeared him to his boss for his thoroughness and determination in his work.
"Coming back as...
Love or hate his courageous and outspoken personality, there is no denying the fact that in the leadership equation, here in Nigeria and elsewhere in all democratic dispensations, loyalty and commitment to service pays off .
These factors of course come from character, hard work and passion for a cause in which you strongly believe. This may perhaps explain why the name of Lauretta Onochie makes her detractors shudder, all because she stood firm and strong with her unwavering loyalty to the cause of President Muhammad Buhari to promote integrity, service delivery of quality and gender equity, especially in the political arena.
In essence, this would also explain why the leadership of the Niger Delta Project, PND, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for responding to the calls of the good people of the Niger Delta. This is precisely the case in the recent appointment of men and women of proven integrity to form the board of directors of the controversial Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
It should be noted that despite the deluge of verbal attacks that followed her pledge to clean up new media, which she led as the president's senior special assistant, she remained resolute. She therefore acted as a beacon against a dark backdrop of innuendo and unproven insinuations, even from some of her own people in the Niger Delta.
On the other hand, others, like PND members, recognize its value. What this implies or proves is that President Buhari made this rare appointment beyond loyalty, competence. The confidence he has shown in Onochie, a graduate of Harvard University, University of Greenwich, University of Benin and University of Calabar, will surely allow her to prove her mettle again.< /p>
In fact, as the PND group rightly noted, the inauguration of the commission's substantive council was long overdue. Onochie's appointment has therefore revived the hopes of the people of the oil-rich region that the commission's lost glory will be restored under his wise watch.
Interestingly, Onochie, once approved by the Senate, becomes the fifth chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board of Directors and the first woman to do so. It's history in motion. His appointment comes about three years after the last chairman of the board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, was fired by the president on January 25, 2019. The senator was appointed in 2016.
It is also recorded that Onochie was a national commissioner appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but was rejected because her state, Delta, had already appointed a commissioner to the body electoral.
In retrospect, the NDDC was established in 2000 by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to accelerate the development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Former NDDC Board Chairs were Chief Onyema Ugochukwu of Abia State and Air Vice Marshal Larry Koinyan (rtd) of Bayelsa, as well as Senators Ewa-Henshaw and Victor Ndoma-Egba, all from Cross River State.
In a letter to Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Buhari also announced the appointment of 15 other NDDC board members. It should be recalled that in September 2008, President Umaru Yar'Adua (of blessed memory) announced the formation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) became a parastatal under the Ministry.
One of the statutory functions of the commission is human capacity development – training and educating the youth of the Niger Delta region. The goal is to curb militancy and the attendant destruction of life and property, while developing important infrastructure to promote the diversification and productivity of the region's economy.
Similar to the PND, the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari's decision to appoint Lauretta Onochie as Chairperson of the NDDC Board.< /p>
Chris Amadi is also appointed Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of NDDC, while Samuel Adjogbe, Engineer, becomes Acting Executive Director, Projects.
According to MOSIEND President Kennedy Tonjo West, because Onochie has worked closely with Buhari, he has no doubt that Onochie will implement the President's vision for the Niger Delta.
West said, "I think this is the first time we've had a woman chair of the board. It's a novel idea. But first, she's SA (special assistant) of the president and she does her job. And the kind of job as an SA, she will definitely do what her boss says.
"If you put that as a criterion, then I'm pretty sure that's what endeared him to his boss for his thoroughness and determination in his work.
"Coming back as...
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