Chief Okorotie who doubles as Publicity Secretary of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and Chairman Bayelsa Elders Forum disclosed this in a chat with Nigerianpilot in his office in Yenagoa, described the ongoing fraud allegations probe as a tragedy, and a culmination of what has been happening over the years.
He said, “well the outcome of the public hearing that the house of representatives in the ongoing probe of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC has been mind blowing.
“Its a tragedy this country, to sit somewhere and cry and had made a fool of itself over the years. That a senator is having a billion naira to go home on a monthly basis. That the jobs that should be for the upliftment of the Niger Delta people are now meant for outsiders to the detriment of the people.
“This Is what the Niger Delta people have been suffering, its not just Bayelsa state alone, it is the entire south south that is suffering, the minorities here are not considered as full fledge human beings, and that is why we are down. Tomorrow they will go and say the amount of money, that have spent here what , what has happened.
“The NDDC is the federal government agency not the state government, what have they done with the money they put it that place? We are looking at the state government, but the federal that has responsibility over NDDC for the effective development of the state, of the various States in the Niger Delta or in the areas of the jurisdiction of the NDDC.
“They have not done anything proper. So it is a great pity and it is sad that we live in a country that the federal government, does not deliberately do things to promote sense of belonging for its citizens. And when I say federal government, I’m not talking about the APC government alone I’m talking about the federal government over the years. Because what is happening now is the culmination of what have been happening over the years., And I do hope that gory openings that we are seeing now would be addressed.
He blamed those that appoint the politicians without proper questioning or investigations, just so for easy manipulation.
Chief Okorotie said, “I would also like to observe that our people who have also occupied major position should also make sure that they stand their ground when they are faced with major decision. Of course I’m not surprised, why I blame them. because those who appoint them, choose lackies, people that they can easily manipulate. That is why they don’t make proper consultation and before they make the appointment”
He therefore, appealed to federal governments to ensure they do the proper things, by providing hospitals, roads and schools to the Niger Delta people.
“We appeal to the federal government to do the right thing, and the result of this forensic investigation that would take place let them make sure that the proper things are done so that our poor people can be helped, we need roads, we need hospitals, we need schools.”
Nigeriapilot reports that, the public hearing of the investigative panel at the house of representatives, which was set up to probe the corruption allegations against the minister God’s will Akpabio and members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC, is ongoing.
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