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The All Progressive Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of frustrating the efforts of the National Assembly in the ongoing investigation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over alleged financial mismanagement in the commission.
The APC statement is in reaction to the claim by the main opposition party that the dramatic collapse of acting NDDC Managing Director, Daniel Pondei, while being grilled by the House of Representatives on Monday, underscores the weight of corruption that have bedevilled the ruling party administration.
“The situation in the NDDC is just a tip of the iceberg on the humongous corruption, looting spree and concealments going on in ministries, department and agencies of government being perpetrated by APC leaders and their cronies,” said the PDP on Monday.
But, describing the PDP’s statement as self-indicting, the APC claimed the PDP is not interested in the current moves by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to reposition the NDDC but dead-scared of the outcome of the 2001 to 2019 forensic audit and legislative inquests of the NDDC operations.
“Nigerians can now understand that the PDP is not interested in the current moves by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to reposition the NDDC but the PDP is dead-scared of the outcome of the 2001 to 2019 forensic audit and legislative inquests of the NDDC operations,” the APC said in a statement on Tuesday by its Deputy National Secretary, Yekini Nabena.
“The PDP is doing everything to sabotage and frustrate the audits.
“In recognition of the ongoing forensic audit and legislative inquest into the operations of the NDDC, as a party we have no intention to trade words on how successive PDP administrations and their cronies institutionalised a culture of contract fraud and other corrupt practices which has robbed the Niger Delta region of badly-needed development. We will rather monitor and await the findings of the ongoing audits.
“However, one thing is clear, no vested interest will continue to turn the NDDC into an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) while multi-faceted development eludes the Niger Delta region.
“We must support the forensic audit of the 19 years of the @NDDCOnline , which includes the first 4 years of the President Buhari administration as well as well-meaning legislative inquests for the benefit of the Niger Delta region.
“As a party, we totally align and support the resolve of @MBuhari to audit and reposition the NDDC.
“As with all institutions of government, we must continue to entrench transparency and accountability.
“The commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration remains the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
“Hence, the audit must be seen as a decisive move to clear any stumbling block undermining the development of the Niger Delta region. Has the President Buhari administration demonstrated its zero-tolerance for corruption? An emphatic yes!
“The administration’s fight against corruption is total, unsparing and there are no sacred cows. Public records show that officials of past administrations, members of the opposition, APC, cabinet members, appointees, private sector among others have been given ample opportunity by this administration to defend corruption allegations when they arise.
“The PDP’s tales of “unbridled treasury looting”, illusionary fraud and other fictitious allegations are part of their tired, baseless and tactless attempts to get public reckoning cover past fraud and play the role of opposition which it has shockingly failed at.”
