Ukwa West Residents Decry Marginalization, Urge President Tinubu to Appoint Asa Son to NDDC Board
The people of Ugwati-Asa in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address what they described as the marginalization and underdevelopment of the oil-producing area by appointing an indigene into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The residents made the call while speaking with journalists in the community, where they expressed concerns over the alleged lack of meaningful NDDC projects and other basic infrastructure in Ukwa West.
According to them, Asa remains the major oil-producing area in Abia State, yet many communities in the area continue to grapple with poor roads, inadequate healthcare facilities, dilapidated schools and inadequate access to basic amenities.
They specifically appealed to President Tinubu to consider the appointment of Comrade Odinakachi Nwankwo, an indigene of Ugwati-Asa, into the NDDC board, saying his appointment would help ensure that the interests of the people of Ukwa West are adequately represented.
Speaking on behalf of the people, Mr. Felix Chidubem commended President Tinubu for what he described as efforts to restore equity in the political representation in Ukwa Federal Constituency.
He appealed to the President to extend the same principle of equity to the NDDC, arguing that an indigene of Asa should be given the opportunity to represent the area and facilitate development.
He said the Asa people are proud of the President, and as a friend of Ukwa people, he has their support. “We appeal to the President to ensure development comes to our area by appointing our son into the commission.
“We thank the President for his love for Asa people and Ukwa people at large. We are appealing for the appointment of our brother, Odinakachi Nwankwo, to the board of NDDC. He is well known to us and loved by the people”.
Also speaking, Hon. Innocent Chiuwa, alleged that Ukwa West had not benefited adequately from NDDC interventions despite being an oil-producing area.
According to him, there is no project done and commissioned by NDDC in Ukwa West, adding that the area has not seen any renovated school or received any scholarship scheme to students in Ukwa West.
Chiuwa further alleged that several communities in Ukwa West were yet to benefit from the NDDC’s “Operation Light Up the Niger Delta” initiative, despite the presence of solar streetlights in other parts of the state.
He called on President Tinubu to investigate the situation and ensure that NDDC projects are equitably distributed among oil-producing communities.
A former APC Chairman in Ukwa West, Elder Uju Nwarie, also appealed to President Tinubu to consider Nwankwo for the NDDC appointment.
Nwarie said Nwankwo had contributed significantly to the growth of the APC in Ukwa West, adding that his appointment would give the people a stronger voice in the commission.
He said the Asa people were being marginalized. In his words, “We don’t have good roads. We are appealing to the President to pick our son to represent us in the NDDC so that what is due to us can get to us”.
He further expressed confidence that the people of Ukwa West would continue to support President Tinubu if the area received greater attention and development.
Similarly, Elder Onyekaozuru Nwankwo said it was unfair that communities contributing to oil production continued to suffer from inadequate infrastructure.
He noted that many communities lacked good roads and quality schools, stressing that the appointment of an indigene to the NDDC board would provide an opportunity to address some of the challenges confronting the area.
The women were also part of the appeal, as the Women Leader of the Odinakachi Nwankwo structure, Mrs. Chinyere Ogougu, pledged the support of women in the area for President Tinubu.
She appealed to the President to remember the plight of women and other residents of Ukwa West by appointing an indigene into the NDDC, saying such a move would help accelerate development in the area.
The residents maintained that Ukwa West, being an oil-producing area, deserved greater attention from the NDDC and the Federal Government, urging President Tinubu to ensure that development interventions reach the communities that produce the resources.
In an interview, Mr Felix Chidubem who identified the gathering as part of efforts by supporters of Odinakachi Nwankwo to appreciate President Tinubu, said the people decided to use the occasion to appeal for greater representation for Asa in the NDDC.
He described Nwankwo as a grassroots politician who had supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) and maintained strong ties with the people.
Chidubem, however, urged the President to remove what he described as “invisible hands” allegedly influencing the distribution of NDDC appointments and projects in the state, pledging massive support for the President’s re-election in 2027.
