Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has attributed the nonperformance of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to those he described as ‘Abuja portfolio contractors and politicians’.
He said the Abuja portfolio contractors and other political interests seeking compensation from those they have assisted to positions within the commission are part of the problem of the interventionist agency.
According to Wike, the group has ensured that the commission remain a cash cow for the siphoning of money to fund elections.
The governor spoke at the inauguration of the Nigeria Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 6 Barracks at Omagwa Community in Ikwerre Local Government, Rivers State on Tuesday which was attended by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo.
“Let nobody say that the problem of NDDC is only of the Niger Delta, no. The problem of NDDC is from the entire Nigeria. You have the Abuja problem, and you have the Niger Delta problem here.”
He berated the NDDC for taking about eleven years to complete the SPU Base 6 housing projects.
Wike said it is no surprise as NDDC projects, often, are abandoned due to poor conceptualization, political in nature and without commensurate provision of fund.
“Mr. Vice President, this is my first time of attending what NDDC is doing. In fact, I don’t know who gave out the information. About seven months ago, I had decided to take over this property for security reasons. I’m sure somebody must have told the interim head that look, better go and complete the project, as the governor is about taking them over.”
“You see, this is the problem with Nigeria. Look at a project like this that was awarded in 2011/2012. Ten years after is when we are commissioning it. This project shouldn’t have lasted this long. The minister has told us here that over thirteen thousand (13,777) projects of NDDC were abandoned. Why will they not be abandoned when they’re projects without conceptualisation, projects being done politically, projects with no funding.”
Speaking further, Wike urged the leadership of the NDDC to fulfill its promise to pay N2.5 billion as counterpart funding for the reconstruction and expansion of the Eastern Bypass road leading to its corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Wike also told the NDDC to adopt the culture of synergizing with governors of states in the Niger Delta to understand their needs in order to achieve a uniform and purposeful development.
While commending the current interim committee for their dogged determination to right the wrongs of the past and completing projects it inherited, Wike also lauded the Inspector General of Police for removing politics from the posting of police commissioners to the state.
“This is the only IG I have seen since 2015, I have had over 15 commissioners of police. They change them by the minute, and that had affected the security architecture. Look at the peace we are having in Rivers State today. It’s because the security agencies in this state are now apolitical.”
The governor also used the occasion to reaffirm that he was not leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he described as the hope of Nigeria.
“I thought we came fully to commission this project. I didn’t know that former Governor Akpabio will turn it to a political rally. But, let the records be straight. I prefer to stay where there is malaria, than to go to where there is cancer. Former Governor (Akpabio), malaria is treatable. With cancer at 4th stage, you’re likely to die. I don’t want to die now. I’m very comfortable to remain where Nigerians have hope.”
