Groups seek Gift Johnbull’s removal as SSA on Community Engagement South South due to embarrassing action
The leadership of the Niger Delta Council of Chiefs and other notable groups in the region are demanding the immediate removal of Hon. Gift Jonhbull, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the president on community engagement South South, due to her negligence and embarrassing actions that have brought disrepute to the people of the Niger Delta region.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Chief Mathias Efe Olowu, National Chairman of the Niger Delta Council of Chiefs, stated that Gift Jonhbull’s program, Roadmap to South South, held at the State House Banquet Hall on 10th December, was a show of shame to the people of the region as Hausa/Fulani extraction have their free day.
“How can a program specifically designed for the Niger Deltans have a larger representation of Hausa / Fulani than the actual people from the region?
Attendees from our organization who participated in the jamboree event confirmed that more than 60% of participants came from the northern region., Does this indicate that the program is tailored for Northerners?
Furthermore, a program designed specifically for the Niger Delta region failed to engage critical stakeholders within the region.
The absence of PANDEF, the umbrella organization representing all Niger Delta people, was conspicuous, while the Urhobo Progress Union, Ijaw National Congress, Isoko Development Union, Ikwere, youths and women groups were excluded.
The group further stated that removing her from the office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South South, will facilitate more fruitful engagement and make it easier for President Tinubu to obtain second-term support from the region.
“Not even our members who travelled from Calabar, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Warri and Benin were provided with water to drink and logistics.”
“We hereby request that Gift Jonhbull provide a detailed account of the program, publish it in a national daily, and issue a formal apology to regional leaders and stakeholders for the unfortunate events that transpired.”
