The recent reconstitution of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) appears to have rested series of speculations even as the reported bickering among stakeholders over who took what has waned naturally. Saturday Tribune’s investigations, however, show that as the dusts raised by the jostle for positions in the multi-million interventionist agency finally settled, no fewer than eight allies or cronies of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, were on the 17-man list released by the Presidency to oversee the affairs of the NDDC for the next four years.
It could not be officially confirmed if the gap-toothed general, who still enjoys some loyalty from his beneficiaries, directly had a hand in the emergence of some those listed.
Nonetheless, sources close to some of the newly appointed board members did not rule out a ‘synergy of efforts.’
-Larry Koinyan
The new chairman-designate of the NDDC, Air Vice Marshal Larry Koinyan (rtd), was a member of the defunct Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) during the Babangida days.
From Trofani in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Koinyan was to later head the Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DIFFRI) when the then military president sought to open up the nation’s rural communities. He remained the head of the body throughout that regime.
-Chubuzor Ugwoha
Before his present appointment as the new Managing Director of the NDDC, the Rivers State born Masters degree holder in Urban and Regional Planning was the deputy general manager, JVA (Onshore) at Total Exploration Nigeria Limited. Curiously, Ugwoha worked under Koinyan as DIFRRI’s Technical Officer for the period the agency lasted.
-Power Aginighan
Power Ziakede Aginighan, from Delta State, is re-nominated as the executive director of finance and administration of the commission. He remains the most experienced hand in the new board. Before his present appointment, Aginighan had held sway as assistant director in the commission even as he was made the acting executive director in charge of finance upon Timi Alaibe’s elevation to the position of Managing Director two years ago.
When the board was dissolved in April this year, Aginighan had to step in as the acting MD until last week’s announcement of a new board. Aginighan’s appointment as the new ED (Finance and Administration) is a product of many factors.
First, he is very close to the core leadership of the Ijaw nation apart from his closeness with the vice president, Goodluck Jonathan. Aside Chief Edwin Clark who is his mentor, Aginighan had a greater part of his tutelage under the former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Chief Albert Horsfall, an ally of Babangida who later became the pioneer boss of the defunct Oil- Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) during the Babangida era. Both Jonathan and Aginighan were directors in the commission.
-Tunde Ogbeha
Senator Tunde Ogbeha from Kogi State, who was at the Senate between 2003 and 2007, is not just a retired Brigadier-General of the Nigerian Army, but one of IBB’s trusted ‘boys.’
Under the Babangida regime, Ogbeha was the military governor of the defunct Bendel State. His closeness, together with the likes of Senate President, David Mark, Koinyan, Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola with Babangida is not secret in the country. Ogbeha has not hidden his loyalty to IBB.
-Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso
The former defence minister and one-time governor of Kano State, unknown to many, is also a close ally of Babangida. Reports have it that his emergence, both as governor in 1999 and minister in 2003, had the blessing and support of the Minna-born general.
Kwankwanso, who is representing the North West, became very close to IBB during the lengthy transition period of the military president. The former defence minister was a member of the House of Representatives between 1991 and 1993.
-Asheik Jarma
The former governor of Borno State is another associate of Ibrahim Babangida who became governor on the goodwill of the former head of state in 1991 during the general’s transition programme. He was said to have coordinated a political group in readiness for the expected entry of Babangida into the presidential race in 2007.
-Jude Ise Idehen (Edo Rep)
The Action Congress (AC) lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly represents Ikpoba/Okha state constituency. He may not have direct link with IBB. The truth in Idehen’s case, however, remains that he was propped by the Governor Adams Oshiomole’s Chief Press Secretary, Prince Kassim Afegbua. Both Idehen and Afegbua are friends.
While the former is not known to have direct political ties with the former military president, Afegbua remains an IBB loyalist having served as the general’s director of publicity in the build up to the 2007 presidential election.
-Ekpo Asuquo Okon ( Cross-River Rep)
Okon, the journalist-turned politician, is the state chairman of the PDP in Cross River State. He had also been the chairman of the NUJ in the state. Between 1991 and 1993, Okon was in the lower chambers of the National Assembly. He is said to enjoy a chummy relationship with Kwankwanso.
