Buhari’s order for forensic audit of NDDC accounts commendable ― Lori Ogbebor

Rights activist, Chief Mrs Rita Lori Ogbebor, on Monday in Lagos applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering forensic auditing of the accounts of the Niger- Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since inception, saying the step taken showed that “the president went into the details and problems” confronting the commission.

The was just as Lori Ogbebor demanded that a return should now be made to the 20-year Master Plan put in place for the commission at inception, lamenting that the plan had been abandoned and the body turned to a cash-cow by politicians at every round of elections.

The rights activist and an Itsekiri leader gave the commendation and the charge while speaking with newsmen at her Surulere residence, saying that the masterstroke decision made by President Buhari had saved the country and indeed the Niger Delta.

According to her, “The region could have been pushed into a crisis by a few greedy people,” and could have painted the present administration in a bad light and could have portrayed the president as a weak man without integrity had he not taken the step.

“APC could have been looked upon as a lawless pack of greedy people, who believe in thinking about themselves alone,” she added.

While also giving kudos to the state governors and all Nigerians who she said stood for justice and fair play, Lori Ogbebor noted that the decision taken at the said meeting had saved the Niger Delta from a crisis as the president hit the nail on the head by ordering an audit of NDDC which was long overdue.

“I want to thank the governors and all Nigerians who stood up for justice and fair play. The decision taken at the meeting has saved us from a crisis.

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“Mr President hit the nail on the head by ordering an audit of NDDC. It is long overdue,” Lori Ogbebor said.

The Itsekiri woman leader, while calling for a return to the NDDC Master Plan, which she lamented had been jettisoned with attendant result of lack of infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, schools in the region, recalled that she was “one of those, who fought hard during the Niger Delta crisis for the creation of NDDC.”

She, however, suggested that a meeting of leaders and elders of the region be called for a review the plan, where former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who created the commission should be invited “to be our guest, to remind us where we are coming from.”

“It is only when we know where we are coming from that we will know where we are going,” she said.

“We got a master plan. During the period of Obasenjo all the governors, youths, elders and women attended the meeting.

“After the long fight, NDDC was created. We had a master plan. Today, we do not know what has happened to the plan,” Lori Ogbebor asserted.

“Billions have been sunk into the Niger Delta. Where are the billions? Where is the master plan? Are we still following the plan? What plan are we executing? Where are we now?” she queried, adding: “That is why General Buhari’s action is commendable.”

“We want to know how much has been spent,” she added further.