NDDC IMC blackmailing National Assembly to distract attention - Reps committee chair

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (APC, Ondo) has said that members of the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC have resolved to blackmail the National Assembly to distract attention from the realities within the commission.

Tunji-Ojo said his committee and the National Assembly will not be distracted or intimidated in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The lawmaker, who represents Akoko North East/West in the green chamber, was reacting to allegation by the Executive Director, Project of the Interim Management Committee, Dr. Cairo Ojuogoh, that he removed a N10 billion rice project from the 2019 budget of the commission and replaced it with supplies of chairs to “non-existing schools”.

He said the IMC has specialised in the use of blackmail and mudslinging to divert the attention of Nigerians from the issues on ground, saying such cheap blackmail will not help neither will it take anybody anywhere.

He challenged the IMC to show Nigerians evidence of their claims, saying “I have challenged them to show Nigerians evidence of their claims. It is not just enough to make allegations.

“I am a core professional, and when I speak, I speak with facts. They should show Nigerians facts.”

He denied the allegation that he removed any project from the budget of the commission, saying: “I have said this before and I am repeating again, no project was removed from the 2019 proposed budget of the NDDC.