NDDC IMC: The Call For a Probe Is Untimely, Diversionary and Prejudiced – Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe

The least may not have been heard about the battle of wits currently going on in the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, between a group of principalities and powers who have continued to claim patent right over  NDDC and another who seek to stop the continued plundering of the commission and reposition her into delivering its original mandate. It is sad that  the NDDC is always in the news for the wrong reasons, and the reason for this is not farfetched as a group of individuals will stop at nothing to keep NDDC as their cash cow. This article will help you understand why after 19 years since NDDC was established; it has remained largely unproductive when put side by side with resources within its disposal.

PETITIONS: A TOOL TO UNSETTLE ANY BOARD
It is no longer news that both chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives did set up Committees to probe an alleged misappropriation of 40 billion naira perpetuated by Prof. Pondei-led Interim Management Committee, IMC, of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. A closer look at the actors involved in this recent petition against the IMC, you will discover that it emanated from the usual quarters- some faceless Youth Organizations, Elders and Stakeholders Forums, who claim to be representing the interest of Niger Delta but with no known address in the entire region. They enjoy heavy financial backing from Senior Management members of Staff, most of who were recently transferred out of the Commission’s Headquarters to allow for swift access to documents that will enable the Forensic Auditors carry out their assignment in the Commission.
This faceless groups have hundreds of spurious petitions already written down and waiting to be deployed against any Board appointed by the president, and should incase the board refuses to do their bidding, they strike just as they are doing presently.
I for one don’t expect that they will seat aloof and watch, while their hundreds of billion Naira secret dealings are brought to light.  And since President Buhari matched his word with action by giving bite to the Interim Management Committee, this group of Senior Management Staff have continued to scuttle the much needed Forensic Audit, thereby, covering their atrocities in the Commission.

SPONSORED MEDIA: A TOOL OF BLACKMAIL
The understanding of the role media (electronic, print and social) play in information dissemination is one thing, knowing how to use the same media as a manipulative tool for disinformation is another, while the former is appropriate, the later has consistently been deployed without hesitation by this aggrieved owners of NDDC, the fascinating and shocking thing about their modus operandi is that they deployed this manipulative media tool to misinform Nigerians whenever they realize their inglorious and unproductive reign at the commission’s headquarters is put on the spotlight like it is being done presently by an independent forensic audit, shocked by their with their transfer out of the Harold Dappa Biriye House, headquarters of NDDC they are left with no option than engage the services of social media propagandist, morally bereaved Newspaper columnist, and even secured airtime on popular radio and TV programs for their paid activists with no track record of activism whatsoever to go misinform Nigerians. Despite their unsuccessful blackmail, campaign of calumny and false accusations aimed at maligning the integrity of the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Sen Godswill Akpabio, President Buhari last week extended the tenure of the IMC till December to enable it conclude the Forensic investigation at the Commission, but those on the other side don’t want it to see the light of the day.

NASS PROBE: A TOOL TO UNDERMINE PRESIDENT BUHARI ANTI-CORRUPTION FIGHT

The alleged 40 billion Naira misappropriation probe called by both chambers of the National Assembly reminds me of the Igbo adage that says “The witch cried in the night, and the child dies in the morning, who killed the child? If not how else can you explain their action? Probing an Interim Management Committee approved by the President to run the affairs of the Commission during the probe of the 19 year period, why can’t they allow for a completion of the forensic audit before going about their probe of the IMC, if indeed there is evidence of alleged infractions against them? Why are some Members of the National Assembly especially Senator Thompson Sekibo keen on being part of the probe? Is he on a vendetta mission of having his pound of flesh back at Senator Akpabio after the later outsmarted him to clinching the position of minority leader of PDP in the eight senate? Had Sen. Sekibo and members of his Committee been carrying out proper oversight function, the NDDC won’t be needing probe every now and then, as it is today. Are members of NASS Committee part of the sleaze going on in NDDC, to which they are ready to sacrifice anything to defend even if it means scuttling the work of an independent forensic audit?

That the leadership of the National Assembly will allow itself to be dragged into another round of unfounded petition brought by some of its members especially those in the NDDC oversight Committee speaks volume. Is the National Assembly leadership also aware that members of the Committee on NDDC are working hand in hand with those recently suspended Senior Management Staff ?
Are these Lawmakers threatened that the forensic investigation will expose their underhand dealings of settlement with inflated contracts running into billions of Naira? Why allow faceless individuals masquerading themselves as Stakeholders of the Niger Delta region smuggle in petitions riddled with baseless allegations, brandishing of false figures and outright smear campaign aimed at painting the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio as well as the IMC in bad light while also undermining the person of President Muhammadu Buhari who ordered the Probe and approved an Interim Board for the said period?

ON FORENSIC AUDIT OF NDDC 19 YEARS WE STAND

Soon after the Federal Executive Council approved Lead Consultant for the audit of the Commission, we have been inundated with series of claims and counter claims from different interest groups on why the forensic audit should be discontinued. Their interest is not for development to get to the nooks and crannies of the region, but to further expand their personal estate at any course necessary.
While President Buhari has given his nod for the forensic audit to commence, it behooves on the APC leadership in the National Assembly to ensure that the needed support is given to the Prof. Pondi led-IMC and suspend the recently constituted probe committee forthwith; allow the Interim Management Committee carry out this all important task of overseeing the day to day running of NDDC while the forensic audit be allowed to continued unhindered. This is not the right time to jeopardize the President’s effort to reposition the NDDC back to its core mandate and objective.
The world is still bleeding over the pandemic and the only legislation Nigerians need now is not a Probe but the prevention and cure of the Coronavirus.

Ndukwe, leading a Niger Delta Development advocacy group writes from Port Harcourt.