The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to release to release the over N500 billion recovered debts of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to the the board.
This is as it called on the national assembly, to expressly release the 2021 and 2022 budgets of the NDDC before the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.
MOSIEND national president, Kennedy Tonjo West spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, during the inauguration of new clan executives in the Eastern zone of the organisation.
West said, “We are calling on the EFCC; the Niger Deltans are aware that about N500 billion debts recovered is in the custody of the EFCC. We hope and pray that the money will not be tampered with. We hope and pray that the money will be released to the current NDDC board to hit the ground running.
“We have been in despair and we have been in dark age and developmental standstill since the inception of this government. Interestingly, we have come to realise that the outgoing president has genuine and sincere intentions for the Niger Delta but those in the corridors of power made themselves a clog in the wheel our progress.
That we will not take.
“Therefore, we are calling on the EFCC chairman to expressly approve and release every recovered monies in their custody to the NDDC. We now have an NDDC board that is up and running. Money shouldn’t be an impediment; money shouldn’t slow down the pace of development in the Niger Delta.”
The MOSIEND president, who said the organisation champions the clamour for the constitution of a new NDDC board, stated that it would be foolhardy for the federal lawmakers, especially those from the Niger Delta to leave without seeing to the release of the commission’s 2021 and 2022 budgets.
He said, “I want to put it on record; MOSIEND fought for the constitution of the current NDDC board. I want to use this medium to alert the press that we are challenging our brothers and our sisters in the national assembly to ensure that the 2021 budget and the 2022 budget is expressly released.
“It will be foolhardy that the budget will still be hanging when they are leaving. So, we want the 2021 and 2022 budgets of the NDDC expressly released.
“We had clamoured for the composition of a new board and by God’s grace, we have an effective, capable board in place and the right set of minds that we want are in place. So, what will still be holding 2021, 2022 budget of the NDDC?
“The NDDC board in their wisdom have carried out quite extensive, far-reaching consultation with stakeholders across board. Therefore, they are very ready to work. Mr. President is in a hurry to make sure that the money is released. So, what is still holding it?”
