AKURE — THE controversy surounding the endorsement of the Ondo State representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chief Sola Oke for a second term of five years was weekend resolved by all stakeholders in the oil politics of the state.
Council of traditional rulers and members of the oil rich Ilaje communities, lawmakers in the state and the 205 caucus members of the PDP in the state reaffirmed their support for his reappointment by president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Addressing newsmen, the council of traditional rulers and members of the coastal communities said his endorsement was unanimous, while the lawmakers in a motion moved by Kingsley Kuku also endorsed his reappointment.
Also, the National Youth Reform (NYR) in a statement by secrretary-General Eddy Orunto said the petition agaisnt the NDDC commisioner before the ICPC has been withdrawn. The group had petitioned ICPC to investigate the execution of projects in the coastal communities of the state.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the council of traditional rulers and members of the oil rich communities, Otunba Mallon Omogbemi said the stakeholders have met with governor Olusegun Agagu on the matter and had resolved to represent him.
Omogbemi pointed out that the choice of Chief Oke as representative of the oil communities in the state could not be compromised because of his excellent and unparallelled perfromance during his first five years.
He added that members of the communities had met two months ago and adopted him for reappointment because of his achievement in the area of physical and human development in the communities.
Speaking on the achievement of Chief Oke, they said that the ocmmunities have witnessed and recorded unparalled level of developemnt.
They include completion of six jetties, seventy six primary and seocndary schools, four health centres, 30 staff quarters, rural electrificaiton, redreging of waterways, organising of computer training and other skill acquisition programmes.
According to them, the oil producing communities of the state will remain grateful to president Obasanjo for the establishment of the commisison which had gone a long way to accentuate and ameliorate the hazard of oil exploration and exploitation in the region.
They commended governor Agagu for recommending Chief Oke for a second term for his high level of performance during his first tenure in office.
Some traditional rulers had paid a visit to the governor last week to present another candidate Engineer Fola Ajimakin for the posiiton but they were told by Dr Agagu that the state will represent Chief Oke for a second term.
