*Says agency can’t be their circuit pipes
James Akpofure, who is also a leader of the Niger Delta Renaissance Movement, called on the leadership of the National Assembly to steer clear of the Forensic Audit of NDDC as the constant comments coming from the National Assembly have proven that the federal legislature is not in agreement with President Buhari’s directive for proper cleansing of the Commission before substantial management board would be inaugurated.
Concerned with the raging war of propaganda allegedly sponsored by the Senate Deputy President, Senator Ovie Omo-age, a Niger Delta born activist, Mr. James Akpofure has called on him to desist from the act of blackmailing the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commissioner (NDDC).
Akpofure, in a news chat in Abuja, recently revealed that the Senator representing Delta Central at the Red Chamber had conspired with some PDP senators, governors, and members of the House of Representatives from the region to ensure the presidential directive on the Forensic Audit of the commission is frustrated.
Reacting to the alleged corruption of the IMC, the human rights activist insisted that the various allegations are made up tales to discredit the team constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari to oversee the Forensic Audit to clean up the NDDC.
“I have carefully listened to the acting Executive Director of Projects, NDDC, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh on Channels and Arise Television News, his explanations are clear and I must commend him for been very discretional regarding his comments on their findings so far even though the IMC oppositions are trying hard to force words from his mouth”.
While commenting on the leadership of Omo-Agege in the South-South particularly Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Akpofure stated that “I am not aware of Ovie Omo-Agege being Leader of the ruling party in South-South, but I understand he is the Leader of the Party in Delta State by virtue of his position as the Deputy President of the Senate.
“I am not a member of the Party but it is clear that he is yet to prove himself as leader of the party before the public. You Journalists get some of these information before us, since after the 2019 elections, Omo-Agege has been involved in various media wars or what you media people call propaganda with eventually all well-meaning leaders of the party in the State.
“First it was him and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Chief Great Ogboru (the Man whose political assets catapulted Omo-Agege to his current political fortune), Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and now Dr Cairo Ojougboh.”
James Akpofure, who is also a leader of the Niger Delta Renaissance Movement, called on the leadership of the National Assembly to steer clear of the Forensic Audit of NDDC as the constant comments coming from the National Assembly have proven that the federal legislature is not in agreement with President Buhari’s directive for proper cleansing of the Commission before substantial management board would be inaugurated.
“I have watched carefully the recent activities of the National Assembly regarding the NDDC and i must say I am disappointed with them. The current crisis rocking the NDDC-IMC could be traced to the failed nominated board of Odubu/Okumagba.
“Recall there was power tussle between the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Sen. Omo-Agege/Oshiomhole over the Constitution of the board that was supposed to take over from the then acting board led by Professor Nelson Braimbraifa.
“The National Chairman of the APC and Ovie Omo-Agege connived with some powerful persons in the presidency and formed a list of nominees who were urgently screened and confirmed by the Senate contrary to the act that established NDDC.
“By the NDDC act, the Chairman and Managing Director of any substantial board to take over leadership of the Commission within this current dispensation, ought to come from Delta State but Omo-Agege in his desperation to be in charge of the Agency ignored the position of the NDDC act and a lot of Niger Deltans including the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, who doubles as the Supervising Minister of the Commission vehemently rejected the formulation.
“Sen Godswill Akpabio, being a man of uncommon wisdom, drew the attention of the President to the error and later suggested to the President the idea of Forensic Audit and the Interim Management Committee which the President in his wisdom approved.
“It is very obvious that the leadership of the National Assembly have interest they are protecting hence they could pay attention to conspiracy theories regarding corruption in the NDDC under the supervision of the Interim Management Committee.
“Though we (Niger Deltans) have welcomed their much talk about probe but we won’t keep quiet and watch them derail into unnecessary politicking and leadership tussle sprang up by Omo-Agege simply because he is pained that the President and the people of Niger Delta rejected and uncovered his plans to be the de facto head of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“For me as an Urhobo man, I do not support the desperation of Ovie Omo-Agege and his group of detractors. The Urhobo people and indeed the Niger Delta people in general strongly believe in legitimate means of power and not cutting corners to take over power and influence at the detriment of the people you so desire to lead.
“The President should call Omo-Agege to order because it is a public knowledge that the President played a major role in the emergence of Omo-Agege current position in the Senate. He just needs to be cautioned because he is causing unnecessary political disability and civil unrest in the Niger Delta region,” he said.
