• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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SELF backs forensic audit of NDDC, threatens to expose fake contractors

NDDC

A group known as South-South Emerging Leaders Forum (SELF) has expressed support for the presidential directive that a forensic audit be carried out on the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

 

SELF asserted that the recent inauguration of an Audit and Document Committee to verify projects and contracts awarded by the Commission was a commendable step.

 

The group also threatened to exposed those it described as “enemies of the South-South region, who have siphoned funds meant for projects and development in the zone”, adding that “all the former NDDC Managing Directors and fake contractors should be brought to book”.

 

SELF commended former All Progressives Congress (APC), Deputy Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank for a recent media report credited to him on the need to rally support for the current leadership of NDDC under its acting Managing Director, Joi Nunieh, to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s objective of fixing the developmental decay in the region through the NDDC.

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In a statement signed by its Co-ordinator, Preye Wilson, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the group said it, “will move against all the political leaders in the region who are making efforts to frustrate the current leadership of the NDDC led by Joi Nunieh, to achieve its mandate.”

 

While assuring that it would sensitize the youths, women and children on the need to expose corrupt activities and elements that have held the NDDC hostage over the years, SELF threatened “to stage a protest against the National Assembly if the budget for the Commission is not approved and released as soon as possible”.

 

It also called on the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan to sound a note of warning to Senators from the zone not to use their offices in sabotaging the efforts of the current NDDC’s leadership as directed by President Buhari.

 

“We must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Dr Joi Nunieh, as the acting Managing Director of NDDC. We believe in her capacity to deliver and we strongly have the feeling that she will do justice to the assignment given to her. We only request that Mr. President should give the current leadership of NDDC all the necessary backing to sanitize the commission.

 

“We also call on the Niger Delta Minister Godswill Akpabio, to work hand in hand with Dr Joi Nunieh to achieve the mandate of the Commission.

 

“On our part, it is high time we professionals and enlightened souls in the Niger Delta region stop sitting by the fence. We will henceforth speak out against malaise holding our region hostage and support those with good intention for the region.

 

“We have water in abundance but nothing to drink; we have resources to develop our region but we lack good roads, good hospitals while our qualified youths are without commensurable jobs.

 

The group said that agitations by our leaders led to the establishment of the NDDC mainly to develop the region, but noted that some enemies of the region had turned the commission to a conduit through which where money meant for the development of the region was being shared in the name of fake contracts.

 

“We have compiled the names of these individuals and groups (contractors), including some former MDs of the NDDC and we may make them public in due course if they fail to cooperate with the verification and audit committee led by Dr Cairo Ojougboh as Chairman,” the group stated.

 

SELF however called on the Audit Committee to carry out the assignment without fear or favour, adding that the panel too wOULD not be pardoned if it compromised.

 

The group urged other civil society groups, human rights activists and vocal individuals to join “the cause of rescuing Niger Delta from the hands of its few enemies by rising and speaking up against the selfish interest of the few”.