Mamman Daura, Aisha Buhari ‘Battle For Soul Of NDDC’, May Force Dissolution Soon – Source

Indications have emerged that the presidency may again dissolve the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Dependable sources told BIGPEN that President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Alhaji Mamman Daura and the wife of the President, Aisha are pushing for the dissolution of the NDDC Interim Management Committee following the ‘new political order’ in the presidency with the exist of Abba Kyari.

The NDDC’s IMC is allegedly operating due to the impetus of the late Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari. Late Kyari was believed to be the man that pulled the strings all this while on NDDC present appointment.

Sources claimed that the First Lady, Aisha Buhari who has overtime showed her frustration over undue influence asserted over NDDC and other Federal Government agencies by some persons in the presidency, is said to be in a ‘fight’ for the soul of the commission.

Mamman Daura is also poised to take the control of the NDDC and has primed a Deltan believed to be his political godson (name withheld) to take over the affairs of the commission on an acting capacity.

The source disclosed that Mamman Daura, accompanied by his alleged godson, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Delta State and a 2023 governorship hopeful, had recently paid a secret visit to the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, before the lockdown.

The purported visit was to intimate the governor of what was in the offing and to seek his consent, the source claim.

A source on Tuesday disclosed that the power play among stakeholders in government couple with the allegation of huge fraud currently rocking the commission, the presidency, barring any last minute change of plans may be dissolving the NDDC’s IMC soon.

The development is coming at the wake of call by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for an immediate system-wide investigation into allegations of fraud, stealing and looting of funds rocking the NDDC.

PDP had lamented that the NDDC, under the current management, has become an automated teller machine (ATM) for corrupt political leaders and their cronies.

On Monday, the party in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that fraud has completely crippled the commission from delivering on its mandate to the people of the region.

According to the PDP, the alleged looting was being perpetrated through the award of shady contracts, diversion of funds and sleazy procurement deals by officials, “in a manner akin to earlier exposed looting in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)”.

The main opposition party expressed worries that the NDDC management has not been able to give cogent explanations to the reported Lassa fever contract fraud through which over N4 billion naira NDDC fund, was alleged to have been frittered on hazy procurement deals.

The statement said, “This is in addition to flimsy denials on the alleged attempt by certain interests to fraudulently funnel N5.5 billion out of NDDC coffers under the guise of procuring kits for the COVID-19 pandemic, a development which also trails reports that the NDDC had already spent over N1.045 billion purportedly for supply of kits and palliatives to Nigerians in nine states.

“The PDP however rejects the attempt by the NDDC management to divert attention from the issues at stake, particularly by alluding to faceless detractors while at the same time opting for internal investigation on the N5.5 billion COVID-19 contract allegation, instead of referring the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

But NDDC management in a statement signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Charles Obi Odili, denied the allegations, saying it did not award contract to any company for the procurement of PPEs and other kits to fight the spread of COVID-19.