TRACKING_____Youth leaders from the oli rich Niger Delta region under the aegis of 21st century youths of the Niger Delta and agitators with conscience (21st CYNDAC), at the weekend, said they were in support of the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC ordered by President Mohammadu Buhari.
The forum in a statement said, they threw its weight behind the leadership of the NDDC, adding that the group was at the frontline of agitation for a better region through peaceful and intellectual means.
In a press statement made available to news men by the group leader general Izon Ebi said, “through our findings, have been made to understand that the alleged 40 billion naira fraud is unsubstantiated.
The media trial is neither here nor there. To our utter consternation is the attempt to tarnish the result of the forensic audit which is supposed to put the commission on a sound footing with frivolous media trial. The Acting MD of the commission Prof Pondei has threatened to resign if he is found wanting during the investigation. Considering that the NDDC has contractual obligations to it’s contractors and service providers, payment to these entities cannot pass for an act of corruption and looting,
N40billion is not missing.
The forensic audit of the commission is the first step in the right direction. Furthermore, as stated by the honourable Minister of Niger Delta affairs, a governance framework should be instituted in the commission to streamline budgeting and service delivery in the commission. And finally on no account should the commission be left without a supervisory ministry. This is the lacuna political jobbers use in pillaging the commission through influence peddling.
Moreover, there has to be synergy between the Niger Delta ministry, the commission and the various state governments of the Niger Delta. It thus spikes the curiosity of discerning minds why there are accusations of corruption when there is no clear evidence to the fact. Is it because of the forensic audit? Why are the antagonists of the IMC and the commission not talking about the trillions of money spent by the commission since it’s creation but only focused on the IMC and the honourable Miniser of Niger Delta affairs?
From the investigation of the 21st century youths, we can make bold to say that it is corruption fighting back. Former stakeholders and beneficiaries of corruption in the commission are being dislodged, this we know is the major reason for this probe.
The Managing Director Prof Pondei has come out to put his integrity at stake by saying that if he is found wanting, he should be made to face the full wrath of the law and the honourable Minister of Niger Delta affairs has equally come out to say that he has only approved disbursement worth 500,000,000 naira. These are facts. We the 21st youths of the Niger Delta and agitators with conscience (21st CYNDAC) use this medium to urge the National assembly to use the probe to fast track repositioning of the commission. Since the resources come from the region, the people of the region should be bonafide beneficiaries of what is due to them. The probe shouldn’t be a ploy to stagnate the commission’s momentum.
