A Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) – Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative (CQTI) – has described as blatant lie the claim of N40 billion scam levelled against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
It would be recalled that the Senate Ad-hoc Committee last Thursday and Friday, held a two-day public investigative hearing on the alleged financial recklessness by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC.
The group which said that it was conversant with the activities of the NDDC, noted that the current Interim Management Committee ( IMC) of the commission has been transparent in its operations.
It said that the accusation against the NDDC of squandering any N40 billion was baseless and the handiwork of detractors who do not wish residents of the region well.
At a media briefing weekend, the President of Quest for Truth Initiative, Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe, noted that the Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei-led IMC was not corrupt as being painted by those who “wanted operations of the commission to be business as usual”.
She stressed that: “The NGO under my leadership have been monitoring the operational activities of the NDDC over the years as regards the core mandate given to the Commission.
“I make bold to declare here that of all the management teams we have interacted with so far and assessed their activities on the field, the current IMC stands out in terms of accessibility to the people and communities in the area as well as transparency in contracts awards and executions.
“All the hues and cries being made by some vested groups against the current IMC are driven by nothing but fear of being cut off from their yearly loots .
“Rather than trying to pull down the incumbent management of the Commission, they should by now, be running from pillar to post on how to escape from shame awaiting them from reports of the ongoing forensic auditing ordered by President Muhamnadu Buhari.”
According to her, it was a lie from the pit of hell for anybody to allege that the Pondei led IMC was working for the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and not the people of the Niger Delta region .
She said: “During the 2- day investigative hearing, none of the accusers and their cronies could substantiate any allegations to that effect.
“In fact, the public hearing exposed the hollowness of all allegations levelled against Akpabio and the Pondei led IMC and it is expected that they will allow peace to reign now in the commission and required development to start taking place in the Niger Delta Region.”
