NDDC: SENATE CLEARS NIGER DELTA AFFAIRS MINISTER OF N480BN FRAUD ALLEGATION

The appointment of a woman could change a lot of things at the NDDC."

Group Alleges Plot to Undermine Buhari's Move to Reconstitute Board

Meanwhile, an alarm has been raised by some stakeholders over moves by certain individuals allegedly of vested interest to undermine the confirmation and reconstitution of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.

The group under the aegis of Foundation Against Fraud, Indiscipline and Corruption (FAFIC), yesterday alleged that people in high places in government were working against the interest of the president, who they said has the prerogative to make appointment for the head of the board.

Consequently, the group called on the people of Niger Delta region to resist any attempt by people they said have held the Commission by the jugular since inception, therefore denying them the dividends for which the Commission was created for.

In a statement titled, 'We Must Not Let Corruption Win' and signed by its President/ National Coordinator, Dr. Uche Diala, which was made available to journalists in Abuja, the group cautioned that any move made to undermine the confirmation and reconstitution of the board, "would be inimical to the efforts of the president to restore sanity, excellence, probity and accountability to the Commission and to return it to the path of delivering dividends to the people of the Niger Delta and member states."

Diala stated: "We are aware of some clandestine and desperate moves by certain individuals and vested interests to undermine the president’s nominations as the Senate confirmation hearings loom.

"It is our objective view that the NDDC Board as reconstituted by the president and awaiting the confirmation of the Senate is an important first step to repositioning the

Commission and implementing the recommendations of the forensic audit as the nominated board is made up of qualified Nigerians and is significantly headed by a woman of integrity and impeccable character who is not tainted in any way by corrupt tendencies and affiliations nor has she any record of corruption against her.

"It bears stating that, Laureta Onochie; if confirmed by the Senate, would be the first woman ever to head the Commission since its inception. We acknowledge it as a plus for the often sidelined Nigerian women who nonetheless in their majority have always proven to be diligent, dependable, hardworking and accountable when assigned such tasks.”