By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A Civil Society pressure group known as North East Development Agenda (NEDA) have reiterated it support over the reappointment of the Board of North East Development Commission (NEDC), describing it as merit based appointment that had followed due process, in line with the laws that established the Commission.
The CSO also described a segment of the people that were questioning the reappointment of the NEDC Board as naysayers sponsored by the enemies of the commission and North-East Region.
The Chairman of the group Alhaji Salihu Magaji stated this in Bauchi on Monday at a Press conference that held at the Hazibal Hotel conference hall, quoting some part of the law thus:”The Chairman and other members of the Board shall be persons of proven integrity and ability and they most be appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate”.
Magaji further buttressed his point by saying that article 3 of law specifically states that, “Subject to the provisions of section 4 of this Act, a member of the Board other than an ex-officio member, shall hold office for a term of 4 years at the first instance and may be re-appointed for another term of 4 years and no more. Here, the constitution is specific”
Magaji then cautioned some of people that are sponsoring the spurious petitions to desist from such unpatriotic acts, stressing that the people of the North East will not support such persons of questionable characters that are bend on being relevant at all cost.
The NEDA Chairman then enjoin people of the North East to give maximum support to the direction the commission is heading under the able leadership of Goni Mohammed Alkali.
“We are satisfied with all the interventions of the commission, it is doing the right thing in order to mitigate the challenges bedeviling the region.
“It is heartwarming to note that immediately after the board members of the commission were reappointed, the commission facilitated N15 billion palliatives to the Six North Eastern State to prove that President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima are concerned about the well being of the citizens of the country”, said Magaji.