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By Joel Anekwe
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has threatened that the state government would sue the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) if the interventionist agency does not pay the sum of N400 million owed the state.
The debt is the commission’s counterpart fund for the construction of the Mother and Child hospital in Port Harcourt.
Making the threat during a courtesy visit by the interim management committee of NDDC to him, the governor said that the NDDC has degenerated into a cash cow for politicians adding that the commission had collapsed and lost its capacity to deliver development to the Niger Delta.
“NDDC is now a political institution. NDDC stole our money. There was an agreement for the Rivers State Government and NDDC to collaborate for the construction of the Mother and Child Hospital. NDDC refused to pay her counterpart fund. Even the N800 million paid by the Rivers State Government, the NDDC only paid N400 million to the contractor and diverted N400 million.
“If they don’t pay our money, we will Institute a legal action against NDDC to retrieve our money.
“Those who fought for the establishment of NDDC will weep that the commission has deviated from its mandate. NDDC has collapsed. NDDC has become a cash cow for politicians,” he said.
Wike said the immediate past board of the NDDC expended N10 billion during the 2019 election to stop him from getting a second term.
“After the former board released N10 billion to remove me from office and they failed, they came here for a courtesy visit. I asked them why they refused to partner with states for the development of the Niger Delta,” he said.
Governor Wike noted that it was governors of Niger Delta states that demanded the forensic audit of the NDDC because of the massive rot at the commission.
“Niger Delta governors asked for the forensic audit of the NDDC when we met with the President. We also asked for the setting up of the board of governors for NDDC.
“I urge the interim committee to carry out a proper audit. You will meet obstacles, but be determined to do a thorough job,” he said.
The governor urged the people of the Niger Delta to work in unity to develop the geo-political zone.
On the leadership of NDDC, Wike said that appointment of officials is strictly a function of the executive arm of government, adding that no other arm of government can determine who runs the NDDC.
He said despite all the funds pumped into NDDC, the commission has accumulated huge debts with no meaningful projects across the Niger Delta. He regretted that the NDDC has also refused to patronise reputable contractors for projects.
