The APC, Mr. Yekini Nabena Deputy
National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress has
accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of sabotaging the Covid-19
intervention efforts in Nigeria, through its attack on state institutions and
other intervention initiatives.
National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress has
accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of sabotaging the Covid-19
intervention efforts in Nigeria, through its attack on state institutions and
other intervention initiatives.
Nabena who stated this Tuesday in
Abuja, was reacting to allegations by the PDP about fraud in the Niger Delta
Development Commission, NDDC, particularly its Covid-19 intervention efforts to
provide Personal Protective Equipment, PPE and other medical kits to fight the
spread of disease in the Niger Delta region.
Abuja, was reacting to allegations by the PDP about fraud in the Niger Delta
Development Commission, NDDC, particularly its Covid-19 intervention efforts to
provide Personal Protective Equipment, PPE and other medical kits to fight the
spread of disease in the Niger Delta region.
The Bayelsa-born APC chieftain urged the
Interim Management Committee of the NDDC to focus on its mandate, “despite the
baseless and obviously sponsored campaign of calumny against the
interventionist agency”.
Interim Management Committee of the NDDC to focus on its mandate, “despite the
baseless and obviously sponsored campaign of calumny against the
interventionist agency”.
According to Nabena, “It is now public
knowledge that the PDP knowingly relied on forged contract papers for its
baseless and unsubstantiated fraud allegations and attacks on the NDDC COVID-19
intervention. I advise the PDP to focus on nation-building and support efforts
to ease the inconveniences, pains and losses brought by Coronavirus on
Nigerians.
knowledge that the PDP knowingly relied on forged contract papers for its
baseless and unsubstantiated fraud allegations and attacks on the NDDC COVID-19
intervention. I advise the PDP to focus on nation-building and support efforts
to ease the inconveniences, pains and losses brought by Coronavirus on
Nigerians.
“There is no fraud in the Commission.
The PDP’s baseless allegation is deliberate and similar to its other actions to
discredit government and other Covid-19 interventions in the country. It is
clear that the PDP’s action is sponsored by those attempting to frustrate the
ongoing forensic audit in the NDDC ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The PDP’s baseless allegation is deliberate and similar to its other actions to
discredit government and other Covid-19 interventions in the country. It is
clear that the PDP’s action is sponsored by those attempting to frustrate the
ongoing forensic audit in the NDDC ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The NDDC is actively supporting
government’s effort to combat the Coronavirus. Recently, the Commission secured
presidential approval for its Covid-19 support to supply medical kits and build
isolation centres in the nine Niger Delta states.
government’s effort to combat the Coronavirus. Recently, the Commission secured
presidential approval for its Covid-19 support to supply medical kits and build
isolation centres in the nine Niger Delta states.
“The commission has disbursed N775m to
assist Niger Delta states fight the coronavirus, along with N270 million as
palliatives to youths, women and people living with disabilities affected by
the lockdown.
assist Niger Delta states fight the coronavirus, along with N270 million as
palliatives to youths, women and people living with disabilities affected by
the lockdown.
“The PDP should bury their heads in
shame for their corrupt and shameful antecedents in the NDDC. Perhaps, the PDP
should have done a simple search on why a Federal High Court sent one of its
Senators to prison.”
shame for their corrupt and shameful antecedents in the NDDC. Perhaps, the PDP
should have done a simple search on why a Federal High Court sent one of its
Senators to prison.”
He said under the PDP, “the Commission
was mandated to conceive, plan and implement plans for the sustainable
development of the Niger Delta, known as the Niger Delta Regional Development
Master Plan (NDRDMP) with a whopping sum of N12 billion expended on a document
that is less than 257 pages but the former ruling party did not have anything to
show.
was mandated to conceive, plan and implement plans for the sustainable
development of the Niger Delta, known as the Niger Delta Regional Development
Master Plan (NDRDMP) with a whopping sum of N12 billion expended on a document
that is less than 257 pages but the former ruling party did not have anything to
show.
“The creation of the plan started in
2001, yet up till now, the Master Plan has not been published. So far, a
whopping sum of N12 billion has been expended. Since inception, the Master Plan
has constituted the single largest expenditure head of NDDC budget.”
2001, yet up till now, the Master Plan has not been published. So far, a
whopping sum of N12 billion has been expended. Since inception, the Master Plan
has constituted the single largest expenditure head of NDDC budget.”
The APC spokesman also said that since
inception till now, PDP Senators have being the Senate Committee Chairman of
the NDDC, a means he said the party has been using resources meant to develop
the Niger Delta into funding party activities.
inception till now, PDP Senators have being the Senate Committee Chairman of
the NDDC, a means he said the party has been using resources meant to develop
the Niger Delta into funding party activities.