Since the setting up of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Nigerians have been inundated on a daily basis with stories of grand heist and corruption within and outside the NDDC.
Anyone watching the drama playing out at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, and the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC would know that the stinking stench of corruption in Nigerian politics knows no bounds.
These gangsters in power are daily devising all sorts of criminal ways to pillage and blow Nigeria’s commonwealth. It’s all about the money, more money, and fetish oath of loyalty to sustain themselves in power to continue to superintend over the fleecing of the country’s resources.
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Corruption has taken over our country and eaten so deep into its soul that hope of redemption is fading fast. The forces of repression are just too powerful.
The mind-boggling sums of money being stolen daily across all agencies and parastatals of government under this supposedly corrective administration frightens one to the very core and would shock any sane Nigerian into numbness.
It is now so brazenly done that it requires no effort to even hide it.
Akpabio, the controversial and colourful Minister of Niger Delta, is not one that would refrain from stirring up trouble. From allegations from Mrs. Joy Nuneih whom he unsuccessfully tried to gag from spilling the truth to his recent outburst at the National Assembly where he squarely fingered the lawmakers of being huge beneficiaries of most of the contracts and ‘kickbacks’ from the Niger Delta Development Commission.
It seemed that the Godswill Akpabio didn’t come to play to the gallery when he blasted the probe committee and was about to go on a singing spree to indict himself and other lawmakers when he was shut off by cries of “It’s Okay! It’s Okay!” coming from the probe committee.
In saner societies, Akpabio should have resigned or forced to step down by now. But this is Nigeria where impunity rules the day, where lawless men and women make laws for others to obey, where the head of the anti-corruption agency is himself enmeshed in mind-boggling corruption allegations, where government officials are constantly devising all sorts of cunning ways and means of looting public treasury that would make even Satan shudder and green with envy.
This is just a tip of the iceberg. Take a glance at the milking of NDDC with this bizarre spending: ₦1.5 billion as ‘Covid-19 relief’ among staff. ‘community relations’ costing N1.072 billion; consultancy, ₦4.1 billion; duty tour allowances, ₦486 million; Imprests (October 2019 to May, 2020), ₦790.9 million; Lassa fever, ₦1.956 billion; legal services, ₦906 million; maintenance, ₦220 million; medicals, ₦2.6 billion; overseas travel (February to May, 2020 when we were all supposed to be on lockdown), ₦85.6 million; logistics, ₦61 million; condolences, ₦61.7 million; public communication, ₦1.121 billion; security, ₦744 million; engagement of stakeholders (February to May, 2020), ₦248 million, etc. while the police got ₦475 million to buy face masks, hand sanitizers and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Surely Akpabio and his goons have robbed this country blind.
The Senate has challenged the minister to unveil the identities of the lawmakers who had been NDDC contractors and benefactors. If all goes well, we might be in for a rather expected treat as he calls out the supposed National Assemby ‘allies’ who helped him ‘develop’ the Niger Delta.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
