PDP Attempting To Sabotage NDDC Probe, Says APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of attempting to sabotage the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari and the probes by both chambers of the National Assembly.

The APC said this in a statement issued by Yekini Nabena, its acting Deputy National Publicity Secretary, on Tuesday in reaction to comments made by the PDP over the revelations at the hearings by the National Assembly on allegations of financial recklessness by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC.

The PDP in a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, on Monday, said Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, the NDDC acting Managing Director, slumped because the burden of guilt and shame he faced during the hearings.

It also claimed that the weight of corruption in the country that has bedevilled the APC led-administration.

But the APC insisted that the PDP is scared of the audit of the NDDC from 2001, when the now-opposition party was in power, to 2019.

The ruling party added that there are no sacred cows in the administration’s fight against corruption.

The statement read: “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.”

The APC said it will not trade words on how successive PDP administrations and their cronies allegedly ruined the NDDC.

The ruling party said it supports the forensic audit of the 19 years of the NDDC, adding that the audit must be seen as a decisive move to clear any stumbling block undermining the development of the Niger Delta region.

“With all institutions of government, we must continue to entrench transparency and accountability. The commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration remains the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.

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

“The PDP’s tales of “unbridled treasury looting”, Illusionary fraud and other fictitious allegations are part of their tired, baseless and tactless attempts to get public reckoning cover past fraud and play the role of opposition which it has shockingly failed at,” the statement read.