Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has urged the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to address the alleged marginalisation of the state by the commission.
Governor Okorocha said this yesterday when the members of the Senate Committee on NDDC led by its chairman, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri, told the committee members that the NDDC had not done well in Imo State.
According to him, “If there is any state that has not benefited from NDDC programme, it is Imo State. We are worst for it. There is no single project completed by NDDC in Imo State except for boreholes and renovation of classrooms.
“Something has to be done and urgently too in Imo by the commission to give the state a sense of belonging.
“There must be change of attitude on the part of NDDC. Irrespective of political parties, we are one when it comes to governance. Governance is the key because the essence of democracy is to produce for people, good leaders who will provide for the people dividends of democracy, and where this is lacking, democratic structure has failed.”
The governor complained that “it is only in the NDDC that one kilometre of road is awarded for N500 million and in Imo, we do it for N70 million, and yet the NDDC contractors wouldn’t do the job. The Senate should ask the contractors to come and do the job; we are not interested in recovering the money. We want the job done.”
Chairman of the Senate committee, Senator Nwaoboshi had earlier told the governor that they were in the state on fact-finding mission to enable them carry out total evaluation of NDDC jobs from 2000 till date, and to also find out whether the performance of the commission has actually affected the lives of the people in the NDDC states, adding that the committee members decided to undertake such action following a motion to that effect in the senate which was passed.
Senator Nwaoboshi assured that his committee would ensure that the contractors who abandoned their sites on flimsy reasons were made to face the wrath of the law, while those who require assistance of the committee to return to site would be assisted to do so.
According to him, their committee would not cut corners, while their report would reflect the facts on ground, adding that if the need arises, the committee might have a public hearing for all Nigerians to see the truth. (Daily Sun)
