TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked Bassey Dan Abia (pictured, middle), managing director and chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and appointed Ibim Seminitari as acting head of the commission.

Seminitari served as commissioner of information in the administration of Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state.

Abia, an indigene of Akwa Ibom state, was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013.

There was strong opposition to the choice of Abia, who was believed to have enjoyed the backing of Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom state and the then chairman of the governors’ forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Responding to a petition which his opponents sent to the presidency, Abia said: “Those writing petitions against me should be bold enough to state clearly what they claim I did wrong while serving on the NDDC board or shut up forever.

“My records are very clear and I am ready to defend them at any point in time.”

Before he was chosen to lead the commission, he served two terms as the representative of Akwa Ibom.

Different corruption allegations have been levelled against NDDC, which was created as a response to the demands of the people of Niger Delta.

More to follow…