Speaking during a Courtesy
Visit by the interim management committee of NDDC to the Government House Port
Harcourt on Wednesday, Governor Wike said that the NDDC has degenerated into a
cash cow for politicians.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom
Ezenwo Wike has declared that the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC)
has collapsed, losing its capacity to
deliver development to the Niger Delta.
“Those who fought for the
establishment of NDDC will weep that the Commission has deviated from its mandate.
NDDC has collapsed. NDDC has become a cash cow for politicians.
“NDDC is now a political
institution. NDDC stole our money. There was an agreement for the Rivers State
Government and NDDC to collaborate for the construction of the Mother and Child
Hospital. NDDC refused to pay her counterpart fund. Even the N800 million paid
by the Rivers State Government, the NDDC only paid N400m to the contractor and
diverted N400 million.
“If they don’t pay our
money, we will Institute a legal action against NDDC to retrieve our money,” he
said.
He said the immediate past
Board of the NDDC expended N10 billion during the 2019 election to stop him
from getting a second term, but they failed.
“After the former Board
released N10 billion to remove me from office and they failed, they came here
for a courtesy visit. I asked them why they refused to partner with states for
the development of the Niger Delta,” he said.
Wike informed that it was
Niger Delta Governors that demanded the forensic audit of the NDDC because of
the massive rot at the commission.
“Niger Delta Governors
asked for the forensic audit of the NDDC when we met with the President. We
also asked for the setting up of the Board of Governors for NDDC.
“I urge the interim
committee to carry out a proper audit. You will meet obstacles, but be
determined to do a thorough job,” he said.
He urged the people of the
Niger Delta to work in unity to develop the geo-political zone.
On the leadership of NDDC,
Wike said that appointment of officials is strictly a function of the Executive
Arm of Government. He said no other arm of government can determine who runs
the NDDC.
While congratulating the
Acting Managing Director of NDDC and members of the interim committee, Wike
said he would never be party to any plot to remove a Rivers person from a
position of responsibility.
He said despite all the
funds pumped into NDDC, the commission has accumulated huge debts with no
meaningful projects across the Niger Delta. He regretted that the NDDC has also
refused to patronise reputable contractors for projects.
Earlier, the Acting
Managing Director of NDDC, Gbene Joi Nunieh said that the Commission is
determined to partner with Niger Delta Governors for the development of the
region.
She urged the Rivers State
Governor to forget the past failures of NDDC and partner with the commission.
The Acting Managing
Director sought the assistance of the Governor in the areas of health and
education. She said some cottage hospitals completed by the NDDC, have been
illegally occupied.
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