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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has refuted allegation that its acting Managing Director, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, and some of his management staff were plotting to stall President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to reconstitute the board of the Commission.
It also dismissed the accusation that the management was conniving with some members of the Senate to share the Commission’s funds.
It said the allegations published by an online news medium, Sahara Reporters, are false and baseless.
A statement signed by Ibitoye Abosede, director, Corporate Affairs of the commission urged the public to disregard the allegation.
The statement read: “The attention of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has been drawn to a false and baseless allegation by a socio-cultural group, Niger Delta Alliance for Economic Survival (NDAES), that some management staff of the NNDC, in cohort with some contractors, plan to frustrate the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to reconstitute the board of the Commission.
“The spurious allegation, published by an online news medium, Sahara Reporters, claiming that the NDDC Acting Managing Director entered into “an agreement with some members of the Senate to continue to share the Commission’s funds is false.”
The Commission described BDAES as a confused group driven by mischief, and who hide under a non-descript group to create confusion by promoting rumour in the mass media.
It noted that those behind the false allegations planned to return the NDDC to the inglorious past of corruption and mismanagement.
“As the politics and campaigns for 2023 elections heat up, it is possible that these campaigns of calumny, blackmail and subterfuge will become even more urgent and strident.
“These characters, who are working against the interest of the people of the Niger Delta region, would be wishing for the Commission to be reduced to a cash cow. Unfortunately, for them, President Buhari will not allow them to put their hands in the till. Rather, he has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to investigate the recommendations of the forensic audit and prepare a White Paper to guide the government on how best to reposition the NDDC before a new board is inaugurated,” the NNDC added.
The commission reiterated that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Okon Umana, as the supervising minister, has laid out a roadmap for regeneration of the agency.
