Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh. |
I
read with utter dismay and surprise the report in the Tuesday edition of The
Nation newspaper, titled “Senate Challenges NDDC over alleged N20m
Palliatives”, stating that I issued a statement alleging that the Niger Delta
Development Commission, NDDC< paid “varying sums of money as COVID-19
palliative” to members of the National Assembly.
I
want to state without equivocation, without any hint of doubt, that I neither
issued, nor made, such a statement. Indeed, there is no provision in the
Commission’s budget for such a payment.
Let
me make it clear, with all due respect to the hallowed chambers of the National
Assembly, as well as to the entire Nigeria public, that I would have resisted
such a payment if it were ever brought up in the Commission.
In
the past few months, the Interim Management Committee, IMC has championed a
campaign to cleanse the Commission of obvious corruption and frivolous
payments, and restore it to its core mandate of facilitating the sustainable
development of the Niger Delta region. A pillar of this campaign is instituting
due process and plugging every dubious hole through which the funds of the
Commission are diverted and frittered away.
In
the course of this campaign, it bears to emphasise once more that I and the
IMC, as well as the Commission, have been clear to state that the National
Assembly, as a distinguished body, as well as the President of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, are absolved of blame. Indeed, the
main body of the National Assembly is unaware of the questionable happenings in
the NDDC.
To
concoct this dubious, malicious and infantile lie against me, therefore, shows
the extent, and how low, people can go to bring harm to individuals and cause
disaffection among people and between institutions.
My
service to my fatherland and the zeal of my patriotism, as well as unwavering
love for the wellbeing of the Niger Delta region and our people will not allow
me to denigrate the lofty institution such as the National Assembly, an important
beacon of our collective democratic journey. As a former member of the National
Assembly, I hold that institution in the highest esteem and will not undermine
nor denigrate its integrity.
I
have always stated that I am a man of peace and a soldier of truth. I have
enough integrity and honour to stand by my statements. And let it be affirmed
here that I do not issue statements on behalf of the Commission. I do this
because it is important, as a man of honour, to speak up when my purpose is
questioned and my integrity and character are challenged.
Consequently,
I respectfully call on the Senate and the entire National Assembly to
discountenance that report. Let me reiterate that I and the IMC, as well as the
Commission, will continue to work with the National Assembly to strengthen the
Commission and make it worthy to meet its Mandate and obligations to the Niger
Delta region.
DR.
CAIRO OJUOGBOH is Ag.
Executive Director, Projects at the NDDC.
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