By Akinwale Kasali
Minister for Niger Delta and Supervising Head of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, has the backing of the Niger Delta Youths over his demand for a forensic audit into the NDDC account.
The youths, under the auspices of Mission for Peace and Development of the Niger Delta, MPDND, threw their weight around the former Governor over his determination to reshape the Commission, and bring corrupt elements in the Commission to book by doing a forensic audit of the Commission’s account.
The group, in a statement issued earlie Thursday, 7th November, 2019, and signed by its President, Peter Tukuwei, and Secretary, Sunday Pius, said only comprehensive clean-up of NDDC can reposition the commission to achieve its set goals of infrastructural development of the region.
The group stressed that having carefully analysed the underdevelopment and the issues of graft in NDDC, it came to the conclusion that only a comprehensive clean up of NDDC will reposition the commission to achieve its set goals of infrastructural development of the region.
“We, therefore, urge all Niger Delta stakeholders to support President Buhari and Godswill Akpabio on the Forensic Audit agenda.
“We also urge Mr. President to conduct due diligence in the selection of credible auditors who will do a thorough job without bias and witch-hunt.
It is our sincere belief that, the three-man Interim Committee be given the chance to open the books for proper investigation.
“We also want the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to collaborate with the Interim Management Committee of NDDC to prosecute defaulters just as the case of a Senator who allegedly collected 300 jobs without a whimper of execution and yet paid, such person or persons, if found guilty, should be put in jail.
“Finally, we urge Mr. President to remain focused and committed on this agenda of Audit, as this is the way forward for the Niger Delta region.”
