Frank urges Buhari to sack board, management of NDDC

The ex-Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Timi Frank, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Board and current management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) without before handing over on May 19, 2023.

This, he said became necessary in view of accusations and counter accusations rocking the agency with a short period of their inauguration.

Frank noted that the revelation of infighting between the Lauretta Onochie-led board members and the management over who controls the account of NDDC when the Act of parliament that set up the NDDC was clear, calls for concern.

In a statement he issued on Monday which was made available to journalists, Frank said, the infighting has brought about the memories of the past, where corruption and infighting ended up in derailing the overall performances of the Commission.

According to him, the drama by the current members of the board and the management team will lead to short-changing the people of the Niger Delta, yet enriching some with personal gains.

He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences, ICPC, to Wade in before it gets late.

Frank’s statement was at the backdrop of revelations at the ongoing Senate Ad-hoc Committee to probe unapproved expenditure by the NDDC.

The inability to properly defend the 2021, 2022 & 2023 budget, the activist insisted, is testament to the fact that the board lacks the basic prerequisites to oversee the affairs of the NDDC and they should be removed.

He lamented over what he described as “fresh dilemma of corruption”, noting that accusations and counter accusations by those managing the resources of NDDC showed that the people in the region cannot benefit anything.

“The fact that this expose, is coming at a time when all hands are supposed to be on deck in midwifing the rebirth of a new NDDC is very worrisome and embarrassing.”