An ex-militant leader, Eshanekpe Israel (a.k.a Akpodoro), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to jail anyone that looted Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Praised the President’s directive that a forensic audit be carried out on NDDC, he called on him to inaugurate the board without delay.
In a statement yesterday, Akpodoro called on stakeholders to support the directive, saying it would reposition the agency for productivity.
Akpodoro, who is the national president of National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators (NCNDEA), said NDDC’s activities was long overdue for a forensic audit and investigation, but for lack of political will by successive governments.
He lamented that the carefree attitude of past administrations aided the commission’s poor performance and service delivery.
The ex-agitator said past NDDC boards compromised their offices, noting that their tenure was characterised by poor service delivery, and reckless management of resources.
Akpodoro queried why the clearance of waterways in a region bedevilled by creeks, and its people subsistent farmers, would be determined by those who care less about the people’s welfare.
He added that contracts meant to uplift the youth were given to cronies, and who are non-indigenes, to spite the region.
A forensic audit, he said, would unravel the crimes of a few who put development of material and human resources in the region in reverse gear for their selfish interest.
Akpodoro said: “…they blare sirens as soon as they are appointed, parade large security personnel, harass and intimidate the people and
‘’Few roads built by the agency are narrow without standard drainage system, yet engineers are appointed to oversee projects. The region remains poorly electrified; they award inflated contracts to themselves by proxies they are enemies of the people and shall be so dealt with.”
The ex-agitator said the Pius Odubu-led board, when inaugurated, would rewrite the narratives of the agency in its productivity and quality service delivery.
He called on the Federal Government to inaugurate the board without delay.
The Nation
