By Douglas Dodiyi-Manuel<\/p>\n
Following the series of agitations that gradually assumed a militarized
\ndimension, the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration thought it
\nimperative to transmutate what was then known as Oil Mineral Producing
\nArea Development Commission (OMPADEC) to the Niger Delta Development
\nCommission (NDDC) with an interventional aim at human and
\ninfrastructural development, which has in prodigious estimate been
\ndisrupted by vested interest and amoral politics.<\/p>\n
The NDDC was concepted to create a developmental hybrid that synthesizes
\nnational and regional developmental aims within the Niger Delta region.
\nHowever, soon after its creation, the gangrenous persuasions of the
\ngreedy instigated a systemic protocol of amoral politics against the
\nfounding interest and aims of the NDDC \u2013 this is the cancer of cupidity.<\/p>\n
In a manner that totally disregards the developmental imperatives and
\nurgencies of the region, the commission soon evolved into a political
\nhamper through, and with which political stakeholders and leaders are
\ncompensated, and vested interests protected at public expense \u2013
\ninstitutional plunderage became the seasonal symphony for successive
\nadministrations. This mindless rape gradually characterized the
\ncommission, as political appointees became billionaires overnight, aided
\nby civil servants that understand the nook, curves and circumventive
\npaths of the administrative processes \u2013 indeed, a river of inexorable
\ndrain of regional resources had formed.<\/p>\n
However, soon after the second term inauguration of President Muhammadu
\nBuhari, the stench of institutional larceny defied every strategy of
\nconcealment \u2013 at every turn, the effluvium of theft was apparent, and
\npermitting the continuance thereof could never be an option to be
\ncontemplated in correspondence to the character and personage of the
\nPresident, Muhammadu Buhari. Thus, an audit was unavoidable \u2013 FORENSIC
\nat that. This sent shivers down the spines of the beneficiaries of the
\nfailed system. In the words of the legendary Malam Nuhu Ribadu, “when
\nyou fight corruption, corruption fights back” \u2013 no wonder, even the
\nformation of an Interim Management Committee, IMC was not without a sui
\ngeneris challenge that eventuated into the appointment of a
\nnon-conformist Chairman of the Presidential Monitoring Committee, in the
\nperson of the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Dr
\nGodswill Obot Akpabio.<\/p>\n
Eventually, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, officially
\nkicked off the forensic audit of the activities of the Commission from
\n2001 to 2019, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari through the
\nMinister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio. During
\nthe handover, it was noted that over 8000 projects were captured during
\nthe NDDC’s verification exercise at the commission’s head quarters in
\nPort Harcourt. There, the Acting Managing Director, Professor
\nKemebradikumo Pondei said that it marked the formal take off of the
\nforensic audit \u2013 thus a battle line is effectively drawn. This battle is
\nnot one without the ancillary campaign of calumny. It is expected, but
\nfrom all indications, the campaign of calumny has against the
\ndetermination of the IMC, been ineffective.<\/p>\n
Albeit, to the proponents of a prosperous society where the commonwealth
\nof the land is managed and administered in a manner that protects and
\npromotes the interest of the generality of society, this is highly
\nwelcome. And so, with the institution of the Interim Management
\nCommittee, IMC came a palpable public anticipation of revelations, and
\nso far, the commission is living up to it, despite the confrontations of
\ncorrupt politicians, and the dissuasions of disgruntled elements.<\/p>\n
Professor Pondei assert, in his words, “It will enable us bring to
\naccount those who misappropriated the commonwealth. It will equip us
\nwith the relevant insight to institute procedures and processes to
\nguarantee that the Commission realizes the vision of its founders. That
\nvision can be interpreted as the rapid development of the Niger Delta to
\ncreate an economy that will serve the needs of its people long after the
\noil resources are gone”.<\/p>\n
He also said, “The forensic audit, therefore, should be seen as an
\nopportunity, and not a witch-hunt – it is an important process that will
\napart from righting the wrongs that kept the region in penury and under
\ndevelopment, provide a strong base upon which a new Niger Delta
\nDevelopment Commission will be built”.<\/p>\n
This is an effort to restore sanity in public administration, and
\nprudence in the management of public resources. It is aimed at
\nreengineering the psyche of public officials vested with public trust,
\nthat our commonality is the good of the land, and the greatness thereof
\n\u2013 this is with immediate reference to the NDDC.<\/p>\n
Before the IMC was instituted, the NDDC had earned an ignominious
\nreputation as an institution of economic predation \u2013 a hill of termites
\nthat eat away the contemporary possibilities of our people. Therefore,
\nto many, the formation of the Interim Management Committee, IMC is an
\nillustration of the President’s attentiveness to public concerns,
\ninsisting that government cannot continue in a manner that is
\ndescriptive of a gang of predative goons.<\/p>\n
It is further noteworthy that this encouraging process would never have
\nbeen initiated without the doggedness, resilience and determination of a
\nman with an intrinsic drive to development, Sen. Godswill Akpabio. It is
\nindeed a threatening expectation that with the monitoring task and
\nresponsibility on the shoulders of Sen. Akpabio, every resources of the
\nNiger Delta allocated to the NDDC from inception will be accounted for.
\nIt cannot be business as usual \u2013 this Pharaoh knows no Joseph!<\/p>\n
Dr Godswill Akpabio personifies a threat to dishonour, and so it is only
\nnormal for those that thrive in dishonour to feign the fear of imminent
\nwitch-hunt.<\/p>\n
This threat to theft creates an expectation of a war that this
\nadministration is willing to wage, and the success thereof is the
\ndetermination to stand up to depravity, unbridled avarice and the
\nparasitic exercise of public powers, and notably, victory is certain.<\/p>\n
END<\/p>\n
Douglas Dodiyi-Manuel is the General Coordinator and Chairman, Free
\nRiver Social Media FRSM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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