By Onome Oghenetega
The leadership of the Concerned Urhobo Youths (CUY) from the 24 kingdoms of Urhobo Nation in the Niger Delta region has carpeted a former President General of apex Urhobo socio-cultural body, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Joe Omene for supporting the alleged corruption in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by the Interim Management Committee.
The youths cautioned the former UPU PG not to make comments especially now that he was no longer the leader of the Urhobo apex body.
CUY, reacting to Chief Omene’s support for NDDC IMC over recent National Assembly probe of alleged corruption in the commission, noted that Omene lacks the capacity to speak for Urhobo Nation in such high level scandal.
In a press statement on Wednesday signed by CUY President, Mr Sunday Omoyibo, the group discribed Chief Omene’s outburst as unfortunate and a setback in the anti-corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group described Omene’s attack on the National Assembly and support for the IMC as a deliberate attempt to frustrate the probe of N40 Billion allegation by the Senate.
Omene had in an online medium (not NIGER DELTA TODAY Online) said, “UPU in total support of NDDC forensic audit and IMC” wants the IMC of NDDC to continue in office till December.
But CUY appealed to President Buhari to respect the law setting up the Commission by disbanding the IMC and swear-in the legally Senate screened board members.
“We want to make it clear to the world especially the Nigerian Government that Chief Joe Omene did not speak for Urhobo Nation. Chief Omene, a former PG of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) spoke for himself, and not for the Urhobo people who are honest and do not harbour corruption.
“The plan by the Senate, indeed, the National Assembly to probe alleged fraudulent activities in the NDDC, is a welcome development. IMC is not known to the law establishing the interventionist agency. We are fully behind the probe of the IMC.
“We particularly appeal to our amiable President Muhammadu Buhari to urgent disband the IMC by inaugurated the committee that had already be screened and clear by the National Assembly”, the statement partly read.
