Governors Still Sidelined In The Affairs Of NDDC – Wike
FeaturedNews February 13, 2021 Dianabasi Effiong
. Says NDDC No Birthright Of Any Ethnic Group, State
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, says despite the inauguration of theadvisory council of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), oilproducing state governors are still sidelined in the affairs of the intervention agency.
The governor noted that because the governing party dictates what happens inthe NDDC, the commission now acts like a state on its own and refusing to interface with the Governors of the oil producing States to strategically develop the Niger Delta region.
He stated this when members of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC led by its chairman, Hon (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Governor Wike explained that contrary to assumption that governors of the Niger Delta are critical stakeholders in the affairs of the NDDC, they are not in the true sense of it.
According to him, since the inauguration of the NDDC advisory council last year, the present federal government has ensured that the governors a reside lined in the affairs of the commission.
“Even when we are inaugurated, we were not involved in anything that happens in NDDC. Which is most unfortunate.”
He further continued: “NDDC is like a state on its own without working with the State government and why is it so. It is so because the states of NDDC are controlled by the opposition party therefore there is no need to consult with them.”
The governor explained that in a bid to ensure NDDC does not embark on indiscriminate execution of projects that often distort the state developmental agenda, the Rivers State government recently obtained a court order that prohibits the commission from carrying out projects without the consent of the state government.
Governor Wike urged the National Assembly to be resolute in its over sight function by ensuring that the NDDC stops frittering the resources meant for the development of the Niger Delta region on building roads in Army barracks, police stations and spending Billions of Naira to ensure he did not win election.
The governor stated that NDDC and the Rivers State had once agreed to collaborate on a legacy project, but the commission ended up defrauding the State government
“NDDC fraudulently duped us over the Mother and Child hospital. They duped us. They had an agreement with the State government to build a regional hospital called Mother and Child hospital. They agreed that it will be N1.7 Billion Naira. State government to bring N800 million, they will bring N900 million. State government at that time paid their N800million. NDDC mobilised the contractor with N400 million of the N800 million we brought and then abandoned the contractor and the contractor left site. And when we came onboard, we said okay, we don’t want to partner with you again, give us back ourN400 million , it became a problem. Politics came in. “
The governor said he will continually speak out for the interest of he people of Rivers state. According to him, within one year, he has awarded contracts for construction of eight fly overs and on Wednesday approved over N16 billion for the development of critical infrastructure in the Rivers state University.
“I want the best for my people. They have given me everything in life, so I owe them. It is not what I will make, they have already made me. So what do I offer back.”
He urged the National Assembly to ensure that planned amendment of the Electoral Act will usher in a new era of free and fair elections. He insisted that, “there cannot be development without good governance. There cannot be good governance without the rule of law. Good governance without the rule of law cannot work.”
Leaders of the delegation and chairman of the committee, Dr. Tunji- Ojo explained that the purpose of the visit is predicated on the fact that Governor Wike is a principal stakeholder in the affairs of NDDC.
Meanwhile, Governor Wike has condemned the posture of some ethnic groups in the Niger Delta Region that he accuses of behaving as if they own the NDDC.
He said the commission belongs to all the States in the region and as such, no one particular ethnic group can assert itself as the dominant owner of the commission as has been observed of recent.
The governor made the declaration when he played host to the Interim Management Committee of NDDC on courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday (February 2nd, 2021).
Governor Wike said members of those groups always kick against the appointment of people to head the commission because they feel such persons are not from core Niger Delta States, which he stated must stop.
“Anybody can be appointed in Niger Delta. There are people who believe that if they appoint somebody from Edo or Cross River States for example, they say no. That those people are not the core Niger Delta states. We must have to stop that.”
The governor also said such people also leave their states and come to Rivers state to block the gates of the commission, cause crisis and frustrate economic activities.
“NDDC does not belong to any ethnic group in the Niger Delta region. It does not belong to anybody. There are people who have seen themselves that they are the owners of NDDC. They leave their state and come to NDDC to block NDDC gate. We are peaceful people, but nobody should push us to the point where we can tell you enough is enough.”
Governor Wike further continued: “The next time they try it again to cause crisis in our state, I’ll mobilise our people against them. I am not saying if you have grievance with NDDC you shouldn’t seek how to settle it. But don’t use it to cause problem for us, to begin to make economic activities not to move on.”
The governor challenged the new interim leadership to determined to make a difference, change the current narrative of the commission serving outsiders interest and abandoning it’s core mandate of developing the region.
Governor Wike said people are abusing the entire region because the commission has wasted trillions of Dollars without lifting the masses of the region out of poverty or commensurate developmental projects on ground to show for the funds received .
“The problem with us is that you allow people outside to control you. You want to have godfathers from East, West and North. NDDC is created for Niger Delta. Use the money for the people and region.
“They are abusing us that Niger Delta is a curse. Trillions of dollars have been spent, and we cannot say this is what we have spent the money on.
“Those Abuja portfolio contractors are part of the people controlling you. They tell you what to do and you do it for fear that they will remove you. But eventually, you will be removed. So, why not work for the people. When you’re removed, you’ll know you did your best for the region.”
Governor Wike also charged the interim management to always work with all the state governors in the region on equal footing, and without politics so that together, they can achieve desired development.
“Go and visit every governor because they are members of the governing council of NDDC and they are the leaders of the states. You don’t need to entangle yourself with unnecessary bickering, politicking . Show a difference.”
The governor cautioned the NDDC management to obey the subsisting court order that makes it mandatory for the commission to seek the consent of the state government before embarking on any project, particularly in Rivers State. He warned that if the commission defies the state government, then, the commission will be dragged to court for contempt.
“I will not hesitate to tell the Attorney General to file contempt against officials of NDDC and NDDC itself. We will not hesitate. Because we have come to the time that Nigerians must understand we must follow rules. The only way you can talk about good governance is when you obey the rule of law. There cannot be good governance when there is nothing to show you obey the law. Good governance is predicated on the rule of law.”
He urged them to conceptualise regional project for execution to end the piecemeal partner they had adopted, which has not moved the region forward in terms of infrastructural development.
“I’ve always said to people, when you have the opportunity to make contribution to the development of your fathers land, you must see it as blessing God has given you. You must not see it as a way to set back your region.
Governor Wike also urged NDDC to send their partnership support towards the reconstruction of the ongoing dualisation of Eastern By Pass Road where the NDDC permanent headquarters is located.
He told them to put their temporary office along Aba Road in good condition before moving out to their permanent headquarters office.
Earlier, the Interim Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Mr Effiong Akwa, said the visit was first to be undertaken by his team to any governor in the region.
Akwa informed the governor that with the newly built permanent NDDC head office now completed, they are ready to commission it on 25th February, 2021.
The Interim Administrator on behalf of the commission later presented six waste disposal trucks to the Rivers State Government to improve the sanitary conditions in the state.
Governor Wike noted that this is the first time in his administration that the commission was offering support to the Rivers State Government.
He commended them for demonstrating good corporate social responsibility in encouraging the state government in its drive to restore Port Harcourt to its Garden City status.
