Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
Niger Delta ex-militant leaders at the weekend threw their weight behind the ongoing forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) appealing to all stakeholders in the region to support the move.
The leaders under the auspices of Third Phase Amnesty said lovers of the region must pray for the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of NDDC led by Prof. Keme Pondei, to complete the assignment given to them by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The leaders in a statement signed by their Bayelsa State Chairman, Osaanya B. Osaanya and former Central Zonal Chairman, Bobolayefa Owoupele, said they were shocked at the level of attacks against Akpabio and the forensic audit.
Osaanya argued that only persons involved in fraudulent dealings, failed contracts and other nefarious activities at the NDDC would be afraid of the ongoing move by Buhari to sanitize the commission.
He said it was unacceptable that a commission established by the federal government to drive the development of the region failed to live up to its objectives following corrupt practices of some of its previous managers.
“We have observed that those attacking Minister Godswill Akpabio and the IMC of the NDDC have something in common. They don’t want the forensic audit of the commission. They want the business as usual.
“These attackers are also sponsored by most contractors especially politicians, who collected their contractual sums but did not execute the projects. They know that the ongoing forensic audit will expose them and they want to do everything possible to derail the exercise,” he said.
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He said the ex-militants would not fold their arms and watch selfish individuals frustrate the audit designed by Buhari to reposition the commission for optimum performance.
He said: “We have monitored Akpabio. One thing we know is that the minister is a development expert. He demonstrated his love for development in Akwa Ibom State and he has been doing very well as the minister of the Niger Delta.
“He has demonstrated capacity in his supervisory role of the ongoing forensic audit of the NDDC. His doggedness in ensuring the completion of the exercise is the reason why most politicians with hidden agenda at the NDDC are attacking him.
“We want to appeal to him to remain focused. We are solidly behind him and we want to warn our collective enemies in the region to stay away from Akapabio. Let the minister be and allow the current interim management of the NDDC to compete its assignment.”
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