Niger Delta Peace and Development Advocates, has appealed to president Muhammadu Buhari to confirm the appointment of Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei as the substantive Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC.
This however, was made in a resolution jointly signed by the president of the group, Comrade Kelvin Ebi Thomas, the Secretary, Ambassador Jude Taunu and a legal practitioner, Mr Iheanyi Amadi.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Thomas, noted that the group resolved to pass a vote of confidence on Pondei-led Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, because of its selflessness and transparent nature in keeping to its mandate of developing the Niger Delta region and also for its commitment to the on-going forensic audit.
On behalf of the group, Thomas further charged NGO’s, stakeholders, traditional leaders, various youth groups and all religious in the Niger Delta region, to be in full support of the Pondei-led IMC.
More so, he revealed that the group had reviewed the activities of the NDDC and concurred to stand for IMC over the allegation of contract worth #5.5 billion said to be awarded by them.
“We have no doubt that Prof. Pondei as the substantive Managing Director of NDDC will deliver and as well bring good and sustainable development in our dear Niger Delta region.
“We want to categorically state that we have done a “fact check” on the allegation that the Niger Delta Development Commission fraudulently awarded a N5.5 Billion Naira contract to a Port Harcourt-based company Sinora Concepts Services Limited. The alleged contract was for supposed to be for the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers in the fight against Corona virus in the nine member states of the Commission.
“Based on our findings, we, therefore, declare the said allegation is false and baseless. The truth is that the allegation is the handiwork of faceless and wicked politicians using paid groups to tarnish the image of the Prof. Pondei-led IMC in the eyes of the public. We are aware that they want to sabotage his good works and as well stop the on-going forensic audit”, Thomas stated.
Thomas declared that the group would not tolerate any form of paid media allegations against the Interim Management of the NDDC.
