The Ilaje Coastal Areas Development Association in Ondo State, on Thursday, kicked against the inclusion of Olatokunbo Ayotunde-Ajasin as a member designate to represent the State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The group said in a joint statement that Mr. Ayotunde-Ajasin is not from the oil producing areas of Ondo State where the position is strictly reserved and rejected his appointment.
The electronic statement was issued and signed by the Association’s Chairman, Lawson Akintokun, and Secretary, Bode Asogbon and was obtained in Akure.
It read, “Ilaje Costal Areas Development Association of Ondo State on behalf of Oil Producing Areas Of the coastal communities of Ondo State wish to express our displeasure over the inclusion of one Olatokunbo Ayotunde Ajasin from Owo as a member designate to represent Ondo State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“The said Olatokunbo Ayotunde-Ajasin is not from the oil producing area of Ondo State where the position is strictly reserved for in accordance with the provision of the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment etc) Act 2000 Act no 6 law of the federation of Nigeria, section 2 (1b):
“Which provides that ‘one person who shall be an indigene of an oil producing area to represent each of the nine oil producing states i.e. Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers’” the statement said.
The Association further asked President Muhammadu Buhari to order the withdrawal of the list and replace Ayotunde-Ajasin with a credible person from the oil-producing coastal Areas of Ilaje local government of Ondo State.
“We also appeal to the Senate president Bukola Saraki and other distinguished members of the Senate to take note of this as it will amount to injustice to our people,” it said.
