There is on-going struggle among politicians in Niger Delta geo-political region to finding a quality replacement for the out-going Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Obong Nsima Ekere who had tendered his resignation Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari. His resignation is premised on the fact that he wants to pursue governorship election under the platform of All Progressive Congress-APC in Akwa Ibom state.
www.towncrier.ng top investigation has revealed that the Niger Delta Development Commission’s current Director for Finance and Administration –DFA the Ogoni born Chief Derek Mene is viewed as a stooge to one of the three sitting senators of the 8th national Assembly from Rivers state. For one the Transportation Minister Rt. Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who it is viewed made substantial contribution in the emergence of obong Nsima Ekere as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the interventionist agency. And speculations are rife concerning the on-going plans by those loyal to the leadership of All Progressive Congress-APC in Rivers state to stifle the governorship ambition of the Senator representing Rivers South East by cutting out all his flanks of financial support and Chief Derek Mene ordinarily would be direct replacement to Outgoing Obong Nsima Ekere as it was done during the tenure of Bayelsa state born Chief Timi Alaibe and Emmanuel Agharivwodo at the exit of the Delta State born politician.
However according to insiders’ account, powerful lobbyists at the Presidency Abuja are looking at Obong Nsima Ekere’s replacement to come from Bayelsa state as against Akwa Ibom state where he hails from. This is generating tension in the Niger Delta as in 2015 Mrs Ibim Semenitari was picked by Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Acting Managing Director for 10-months at the exit of Barrister Dan Abia who was then Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.