A human rights lawyer, Godwin Ojeh, on Friday urged President Muhammadu
Buhari to take steps to remove Godswill Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta.
The lawyer said this in a personal letter to the President.
Ojeh said: “We passionately appeal to Your Excellency to curb the
excesses of Mr. Akpabio by relieving him of ministerial duties of the Niger
Delta. He has not been a good example for our people. The trending exchange of
immoral accusations in the social media which focus on the minister is a dent
on the image of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
He also appealed to President Buhari to take necessary steps to end the
corruption in the Niger Delta Development Commission by removing Prof.
Kemebradikumo Pondei and Cairo Ojuogboh from the Interim Management Committee.
He said: “It will also be a right step in the right direction to take
necessary steps to end the corruption in NDDC by removing Prof. Kemebradikumo
Pondei and Cairo Ojuogboh from the Interim Management Committee.”
In the letter to President Buhari and Principal Officers of the National
Assembly, Ojeh urged Buhari not to allow the NDDC to go the way of the defunct
Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission.
He added: “It is no gainsaying that if the Interim Management Committee
continue to handle the affairs of the NDDC in the manner antithetical to the
fight against corruption and lack of regards to constituted authority, the resultant
effects on the Commission will be worse than the disgraceful image which
destroyed its predecessor, the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development
Commission (OMPADEC, whose name became synonymous with contract scam.”
Ojeh expressed his disappointment over the handling of the commission’s
finances.
He said: “We identify with Your Excellency’s unprecedented stance
against corruption and feel greatly concerned with the ways and manners the
Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) is
executing the important task given to it by Your Excellency. As concerned
citizens from the indisputable volatile Niger Delta Area, we feel obliged to
express our disappointment on the reckless attitude of the members of the Interim
Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).”
He emphasised the objectives of the National Assembly Investigative
Hearing, adding: “The people of the Niger Delta Area strongly believe that the
inquiries of the Senate and the House of Representatives adhoc committees are
to remove the negative factors that may compromise the NDDC’s noble mission in
the lives of the Niger Delta people. Also, we believe that the investigative
hearings of the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly will have the
resultant effect of ensuring that the enormous sums of money appropriated to
the NDDC over the years are appropriately accounted for by those who have the
responsibility to manage the essential public trust put in their care.”
The Edo State-based lawyer said the ongoing probe of the expenditure of
the IMC) of the NDDC was not a witch-hunt, adding: “It is worrisome that the
Interim Management Committee has perfected the acts of frustrating the major
purpose for which it was set up. For instance, the Interim Management Committee
which ought to encourage the National Assembly’s resolve and efforts to shed
light on the alleged squandering of the whopping sum of N40billion (Forty
Billion Naira) within a period of 3 (three months is ‘crying foul’ that the
legislative inquiries are designed to ‘witch-hunt’ its members and
associates..”
Ojeh pointed out that the NDDC was not the personal estate of the
Minister of Niger Delta and members of the Interim Management Committee.
He said: “Your Excellency, it is a general/common knowledge in the
public domain that the mandate of the Interim Management Committee includes the
creation of an ‘enabling environment’ for the forensic audit of the Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDDC) and revival of the Niger Delta Development
Commission and get it to work for the good of the Niger Delta Region and its
people.”
He described the walkout from the sittings of the National Assembly
inquiries by the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC, led by Pondei, on
Thursday as a big setback for the current fight against corruption in public
offices.
He said: “The walkout from the sittings of the National Assembly
Inquiries by the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC led by Pondei on
Thursday, July 16, 2020, is a big setback for the current fight against
corruption in public offices. It was a blatant disregard for the rule of law in
a country that is at the forefront of good governance and accountability in
Africa. We expected the Interim Management Committee led by Pondei to take the
centre stage in the fight against corruption and abuse of public funds but it
appears the members of the Interim Management Committee embarked upon the
latest charade in a vain attempt to deflect attention from the allegation of fraud,
stealing and looting of funds in the Niger Delta Development Commission
(NDDC).”
The legal luminary urged President Buhari not to allow the NDDC to go
the way of the defunct OMPADEC.
He said: “It is pertinent that Your Excellency must make it clear in
words and conduct that NDDC is not the personal property of the Minister of
Niger Delta and members of the Interim Management Committee. The oversight
function of the National Assembly as it relates to the NDDC should be
encouraged and not rubbished as attempted by the Interim Management Committee.
It is hurtful to dismiss accountability, probity and transparency issues in the
NDDC.
“Mr. President, we reiterate our commitment in sharing your vision that
the country belongs to us all and must not be destroyed by the few gang members
that thrives on corruption.”
Source: theeagleonline.com.ng
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