By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has stated that the current leadership of the commission introduced the policy of rewind to rebirth so as to remove public negative impression about the commission.
Ogbuku said the commission has now a changed focus with the current Board’s policy of “Rewind to Rebirth because the board have gone back a little to see where NDDC started and what the commission needed to do now and the nearest future.
According to him, the board which he led has went back to NDDC books, interacted with previous managements to know where things went wrong, adding that “One of the areas that we have to rebirth the NDDC was in the area of transparency.”
He added that since the beginning of NDDC rebirth, the commission has been reinvesting funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), in communities across the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku spoke when he led a delegation of the NDDC management, on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede in Abuja, at the weekend.
He explained that the visit to EFCC headquarters was in appreciation of the financial recoveries the Commission made on behalf of the NDDC, which he said had helped in developing the Niger Delta region.
His words during the visit: “We want as a management to thank the EFCC for supporting the NDDC to make the recoveries that have helped the region and the Commission. Mr. Chairman, this is to let you know that the NDDC is investing the recoveries in projects.
“At a point, we will invite the EFCC to join us in commissioning some of those projects. It will be a sign that the recoveries made by the EFCC are used to support the development of the Niger Delta.”
Ogbuku, who lauded the EFCC, observed that the negative impression about the agency was changing with the current Board’s policy of “Rewind to Rebirth.”
“Apart from thanking you, we also came to let you know what the NDDC has been doing so far. Many people had a very dark impression of the NDDC but we thought that we should look forward and not backward.
Responding, Olukoyede stressed the need to uphold transparency and accountability in the conduct of affairs in the country. He commended the NDDC for refining its processes to uphold the principles of probity.
Olukoyede stated: “The five minutes of interaction with the MD left me with a different perception of NDDC. I want to congratulate and also thank you for your readiness and commitment to bring change.
“Maybe, we will begin to see an NDDC that is a symbol of pride, accountability, transparency and able to deliver on its mandate. That is what the NDDC should stand for and I want to thank you for bringing that to the table.
From this presentation, one can see that you’re somebody that is ready to bring a change, and that is the exact thing that we stand for in EFCC. It is possible for us to build a system of accountability, transparency and integrity in Nigeria.
“Always have it at the back of your mind that while you are on this side today, you might be on the other side tomorrow. Let it be the guiding principle for those in position of trust in everything they do. That has always been my own guiding principle, because you will not be there forever. You can protect certain things today, but if you leave, you will discover that the person closest to you, may be someone who benefitted from you, would be the one to expose you.
“Fundamentally, Nigerians are good people. The only problem that we have is the system that we operate; a system that allows fraud to flourish. But if you take the same Nigerian who is corrupt in our system to an environment with strict regulatory compliance and structures, you will discover that he will behave.
“We are not going to compromise. We have been called names and maligned but we are resolute. We are moving forward because somebody has to do this job and we will do it and deliver. I told Nigerians upon my assumption of office that we are going to use the instrumentality of the anti-corruption fight to build the economy and ensure good governance.”
“We have been working with you to make recoveries, we will continue to do more. The collaboration is something we need to take to the next level, and with what you have put on the table I think we are ready to work with you to strengthen your systems and processes and to take the NDDC to the next level.”