Governor Hope Uzodinma’s recent call for a comprehensive audit of all abandoned Niger Delta Development Company NDDC projects in the country, has elicited mixed reactions among the people, most of who doubted the Governor’s seriousness.
A Government House source who confided in this reporter disclosed that most of “those responsible for the abandonment of the said projects are the Governor’s friends, associates and confidants who he dines and hob nobs with.
“If the Governor is actually sincere about his call for a probe, he should first call on his friends who have uncompleted projects in the state to mobilize to site without delay. However, he will find it difficult to muster the courage to compel them to do the needful because most of them are his close friends, associates and confidants who, reportedly contributed enormously in cash and kind to his victory at the polls”.
Another source who spoke in the same vein, also noted that, “if Governor Uzodinma, is actually serious, about his call for a comprehensive audit, he should start by telling is friends who are handling Imo state projects to mobilize to site. He should also look for other ways of rewarding or patronizing his supporters instead of giving them projects to execute. The fact is that they often abandon these projects because they see them as reward for either their politically, financial or sundry support for the Governor in his time of need”.
However, since the Governor made the call for a comprehensive audit of abandoned projects in the state a cross section of Imolites at home and in the Diaspora have adopted “a wait and see” approach that is mostly hinged on sceptism because of the caliber of people behind the abandoned projects and their relationship with the Governor and others in the corridors of power.
Recall, that Governor Uzodinma while receiving in audience, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr Abubakar Momoh at the Government House, Owerri on Tuesday, March, 26, called for a comprehensive audit of all abandoned projects that litter the nooks and crannies of the states that constitute the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.
Aside the call for a comprehensive audit of abandoned NDDC projects, Governor Uzodinma further suggested that the Amnesty Programme of the Ministry be strengthened to enable the people, particularly the youths of the region, to have commensurate value from the programme.
