Buhari: Akwa Ibom Group jots down open letter to President

His Excellency,

Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari

President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria,

Aso Rock, Abuja.

Your Excellency,

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

RE: CONSTITUTION OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD OF NDDC: A Case for Appointment of Ekid Sons.

The Ekid People's Union (EPU) is the summit socio-cultural organization of the peace-loving and progressive people of Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State as well as those in the diaspora. We hereby send our warm greetings and prayers for God's guidance in directing the affairs of Nigeria.

Your Excellency, the Act establishing the NDDC prescribes due criteria for appointments to the Board and rotation among the States within the Commission and the core oil Producing Local Government Areas of the participating States (Section 2 of the NDDC (Establishment etc) Act - 2000).

However, we note that the appointment of the Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA) into the last interim Board was not in line with the law (section 2 (1) (b))of the NDDC Act, 2000. For neither did it take cognizance of the moral persuasion that the EDFA ought to have been appointed from Esit Eket LGA to assuage for the unfortunate loss of our son, Chief Ibanga Etang, who died while on active service as the EDFA of the interim board, nor was the appointment sensitive to the existing, ongoing credible agitation by the Eket Local Government Area that since the inception of the NDDC in 2000 they have not been represented on the Board, despite being among the highest oil-producing LGAs in Akwa Ibom State.

However, since we also noted the interim nature of the Board, instead of protesting against the appointment, as a responsible people and Union we sought to promote inter-ethnic peace, understanding and harmony. It was against this background, that the Union dissociated itself from any court case or cases purportedly challenging the appointment of the EDFA of the then Interim NDDC Board.

Now that the NDDC Board is about to be constituted, we respectfully request that the positions of EDFA and the State Representative, should deservedly, equitably and fairly be made from Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.

It recently came to our attention that two blood brothers from the same ethnic Oro community have been nominated as EDFA and State Representative for the NDDC Board, respectively. If true, that would be very unfair, unjust and unaccommodating of the feelings of Eket people, who have never produced any member of the NDDC Board since its inception, despite contributing a large chunk of the nations oil output.

The Ekid Nation offers a peaceful environment for the current production of about 50% of the crude oil from Akwa Ibom and remains a responsible integral unit of a united Nigeria. Should Eket people then be rewarded with this unthinkable injustice for being peaceful?

Sir, in pleading for these concessions based on equity and fairness, we are indeed appealing to your age-long known sense of uprightness, honesty and transparency. So, thank you in advance for the anticipated favourable response.

We are, yours most sincerely

Dr. Samuel Udonsak (National President)

Chief Usoro I. Usoro, PhD (National Publicity Secretary)