August 11, (THEWILL) – Honourable Perezide Napoleon has said the demand for transparency and accountability in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by Chief Michael Johnny, the Agadiwei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State, was in the best interests of the South-South region.
Perezide made the remarks on Saturday, while responding to comments by a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, against Johnny.
He noted that the Gbaramatu Chief’s call for a probe of the activities of the NDDC was done in good faith because the interventionist agency has not lived up to expectations since it was established in 2000.
According to Perezide, Johnny, a faithful member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, is entitled to his opinion to demand accountability in the NDDC as a Niger Delta indigene.
“I still recall that sometime in May, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli made a publication, calling on the EFCC to probe former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Simbi Wabote, a fellow Ijaw from Bayelsa State. Therefore, Sunny-Goli should also free himself from the dog-eat-dog mentality.
“Chief Michael Johnny is entitled to his opinion to demand accountability in the NDDC. He can as well also decide to support the present NDDC Board for the good of the region.
“The office of the MD of NDDC is a public office and the occupier is answerable to the people of Niger Delta region. I will advise Sunny-Goli to know this and stop being sycophantic.
“Finally, it is proper to educate Sunny-Goli that Michael Johnny is a financial and committed APC leader in Delta State, he is from an oil-producing community, a Niger Deltan, therefore, he is entitled to be patronised and to benefit from NDDC, after all, people who are not from Niger Delta are benefiting from the NDDC,” he said.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
