John Duku
Former militant leaders in the Niger Delta region have accused the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of spending N4 billion to sponsor the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2015 elections, including the failed re-election bid of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking under the auspices of the Niger Delta Watchdogs (NDW), the ex-warlords praised President Muhammadu Buhari for the dissolving the NDDC board.
In a statement today, the ex-militants argued that while former President Olusegun Obasanjo established the NDDC for the development of the region, the immediate past board turned the commission into an institution for sponsoring ‘PDP elections’ in 2015.
The statement, signed by ‘General’ John Duku’ and three others on behalf of the NDW, declared that the NDDC spent over N4bn in sponsoring PDP elections when abandoned projects, belonging to the commission littered the entire Niger Delta region.
They called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the immediate past board of the commission.
The statement read: “The formation of the NDDC by former President Olusegun Obasanjo was for the development of the Niger Delta region. But the immediate past board of the commission has derailed from the aims and objectives of the commission and turned the commission into a political finance institution by using the money meant for the development of the Niger Delta Master plan to sponsor PDP elections in 2015.
“We were so shock that the commission spent over N4bn to sponsor PDP elections whereas abandoned projects by the commission are scattered all over the Niger Delta region. We call on EFCC to investigate and bring the immediate past board to justice.”
The ex-militant leaders urged Buhari to appoint a technocrat and God-fearing person as the new managing director of the NDDC.
NDW added, “The Niger Delta militants/ex-militant commanders commend Mr. President for the dissolution of the Niger Delta Development Commission Board. We salute the courage of the President to dissolve the NDDC. Over 45 commanders met under the auspices of the Niger Delta Watchdogs.”
They also suggested that the President should appoint someone with experience in the oil and gas industry and maintained that such step would make it easier for the NDDC to relate with the oil companies with a view to developing the region.
Advising Buhari to reject any nomination from politicians, the ex-fighters pleaded with him to accept a candidate that enjoyed the support of the masses. [myad]
