TheCable

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is scared of the outcome of the forensic audit into the finances of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In October, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the audit of the commission’s finances from 2001 to 2019.

However, there have been allegations and controversy over the activities of the interim management committee (IMC) meant to undertake the audit.

While the senate probed the alleged mismanagement of N40 billion, the house of representatives is investigating the “misuse” of N81.5 billion.

In a statement on Tuesday, Yekini Nabena, APC deputy spokesman, said his party supports the audit of the commission’s finances.

“Nigerians can now understand that the PDP is not interested in the current moves by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to reposition the NDDC, but the PDP is dead-scared of the outcome of the 2001 to 2019 forensic audit and legislative inquests of the NDDC operations. The PDP is doing everything to sabotage and frustrate the audits,” Nabena said.

“In recognition of the ongoing forensic audit and legislative inquest into the operations of the NDDC, as a party, we have no intention to trade words on how successive PDP administrations and their cronies institutionalised a culture of contract fraud and other corrupt practices which has robbed the Niger Delta region of badly-needed development. We will rather monitor and await the findings of the ongoing audits.

“However, one thing is clear; no vested interest will continue to turn the NDDC into an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) while multi-faceted development eludes the Niger Delta region.

“We must support the forensic audit of the 19 years of the NDDC, which includes the first 4 years of the President Buhari administration as well as well-meaning legislative inquests for the benefit of the Niger Delta region.”

Nabena said Buhari has demonstrated zero-tolerance for corruption.

“Has the President Buhari administration demonstrated its zero-tolerance for corruption? An emphatic yes!” he said.

“The administration’s fight against corruption is total, unsparing and there are no sacred cows. Public records show that officials of past administrations, members of the opposition, APC, cabinet members, appointees, private sector, among others, have been given ample opportunity by this administration to defend corruption allegations when they arise.”