Gladys Nweke
Indigenous Contractors of Niger Delta Development Commission have staged a peaceful protest to the head office of the Commission in Port Harcourt demanding for the sack of the Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere, over the failure to pay them for contracts executed.
The protesters numbering over 18 bearing placards with different inscriptions alleged that they have not been paid for the past three years after delivering their projects.
The leader of the protesters and Coordinator of the Indigenous Contractors, Mr Alexander Erema Pepple, alleged that the Nsima Ekere-led board of NDDC has failed.
Mr Pepple called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the matter by calling the Managing Director of NDDC to order.
Mr Pepple accused Ekere of being unfair to the region anf shortchanging the people and contravening the electoral laws by holding sway as the Managing Director of NDDC and bearing the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom at the same time.
According to him, “This Nsima Ekere-led board is diverting funds for contractors for their personal use. They have been very wicked to the region. We have been shortchanged, the jobs that are meant for Niger Delta indigenous contractors are given to people in Abuja.
“Nsima Ekere should be sacked because we are tired. He is frustrating the whole region. Only this month, over 50 contractors have been here for uncountable engagement but he (Ekere) always give us empty promises that cannot be fulfilled.
“The annoying part is that the international oil companies are paying so much funds to NDDC, yet nothing to show for it.
“We are telling the world and we are calling on Mr President to please come to our rescue because we are tired of the situation. We cannot take it anymore.
“The annoying part of this, is that Nsima Ekere is the Managing Director of NDDC and also the APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, which contravenes our electoral laws” the protesting contractors said.
