NDDC Denies Allegations Of Diversion Of Jobs, Projects To Interior Minister’s Akoko
The Ondo State Representative on the NDDC board, Otito Atikase, described the allegations as false, misleading, and baseless.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has denied allegations by residents of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State that Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, influenced the diversion of projects and employment opportunities meant for Niger Delta areas of the state to the Akoko constituency.
The Ondo State Representative on the NDDC board, Otito Atikase, described the allegations as false, misleading, and baseless.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the people of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State accused Tunji-Ojo of orchestrating the diversion of employment slots and development projects meant for the Niger Delta communities to his Akoko constituency.
Community sources alleged that Ese-Odo was completely excluded from a recent employment exercise conducted by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), despite being part of the Niger Delta region.
“There was an employment exercise done by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), but Ese-Odo has not been captured in the employment opportunities,” one of the sources said.
The source further revealed that community leaders had repeatedly engaged Tunji-Ojo over the alleged marginalisation, but claimed that no action had been taken.
“All the employees are from Akoko and Akure, not even one Ese-Odo person was given an opportunity,” the source added.
Beyond employment concerns, the Ese-Odo people also accused the minister of manipulating project allocations within the NDDC to favour his political stronghold, allegedly breaching established guidelines.
“By the sharing formula put in place in the NDDC, 20% of the 66 projects were to be shared amongst the 16 local governments that are outside the Niger Delta mandate area,” the source told SaharaReporters.
“The number of projects would have been about 13. Since there was no board in place in the NDDC during this period, Hon. Bunmi Ojo doubled as the Ondo State Representative and the Chairman of the House Committee on the NDDC.
“He broke all the known guidelines put in place by the NDDC and became a law unto himself, manipulating the award of contracts solely to his Federal Constituency.
“Hon. Bunmi Ojo abused the privileges of his office and bastardised the guidelines put in place at the NDDC. He exhibited unprecedented nepotism with reckless abandon.”
However, despite the fact that SaharaReporters published lists of candidates employed in the said recent employment exercise by the NDDC, as provided by the sources, Atikase denied the allegations.
He denied the allegations by Ese-Odo people that the minister was involved in project diversion and employment racketeering within the Commission.
“The claims are completely unfounded and amount to nothing more than a figment of imagination,” Atikase said.
“No such occurrence has taken place at any time. The Honourable Minister of Interior has no connection whatsoever with the affairs or operations of the NDDC, and any attempt to link him to these allegations is entirely misleading and unjustifiable.”
Atikase further stated that the operational framework of the NDDC is independent and does not fall under the supervision or influence of the Interior Ministry.
According to Atikase, “The mandate, structure, and operational framework of the NDDC are distinct and independent, with clearly defined oversight mechanisms that do not involve the Office of the Minister of Interior.
“Any suggestion to the contrary reflects either a fundamental misunderstanding of government processes or a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.”
Atikase also denied allegations that projects were diverted to Akoko at the expense of communities in Ese-Odo Local Government Area, insisting that the people have no evidence to support the accusations of bias or manipulation in project allocation or recruitment processes.
Atikase, who however, did not provide evidence of projects carried out by the NDDC in Ese-Odo Local Government Area or candidates from the local government area employed by the NDDC, said, “The allegations regarding the diversion of projects to Akoko and employment bias against the people of Ese-Odo Local Government lack any factual grounding.”
“There is no record, directive, or credible evidence supporting such claims. The Minister has never at any time meddled with the activities of the commission, making these accusations not only false but also inconsistent with his established record.”
In a further pushback against the allegations, the NDDC questioned the credibility of individuals cited in the said employment list, claiming that the names mentioned could not be verified in any official capacity.
Describing the allegations as a “campaign of calumny,” the Commission maintained that its leadership would not engage in any illegal dealings capable of undermining reforms aimed at restoring its credibility after years of controversy.
“The board and management of the commission will never engage in any illegal transactions that will impair the image of the commission we have started to build after years of decadence,” Atikase said.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the people of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State accused Tunji-Ojo of orchestrating the diversion of employment slots and development projects meant for the Niger Delta communities to his Akoko constituency.
Community sources alleged that Ese-Odo was completely excluded from a recent employment exercise conducted by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), despite being part of the Niger Delta region.
“There was an employment exercise done by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), but Ese-Odo has not been captured in the employment opportunities,” one of the sources said
The source further revealed that community leaders had repeatedly engaged Tunji-Ojo over the alleged marginalisation, but claimed that no action had been taken.
“All the employees are from Akoko and Akure, not even one Ese-Odo person was given an opportunity,” the source added.
Beyond employment concerns, the Ese-Odo people also accused the minister of manipulating project allocations within the NDDC to favour his political stronghold, allegedly breaching established guidelines.
“By the sharing formula put in place in the NDDC, 20% of the 66 projects were to be shared amongst the 16 local governments that are outside the Niger Delta mandate area,” the source told SaharaReporters.
“The number of projects would have been about 13. Since there was no board in place in the NDDC during this period, Hon. Bunmi Ojo doubled as the Ondo State Representative and the Chairman of the House Committee on the NDDC.
“He broke all the known guidelines put in place by the NDDC and became a law unto himself, manipulating the award of contracts solely to his Federal Constituency.
“Hon. Bunmi Ojo abused the privileges of his office and bastardised the guidelines put in place at the NDDC. He exhibited unprecedented nepotism with reckless abandon.”
However, despite the fact that SaharaReporters published lists of candidates employed in the said recent employment exercise by the NDDC, as provided by the sources, Atikase denied the allegations.
He denied the allegations by Ese-Odo people that the minister was involved in project diversion and employment racketeering within the Commission.
“The claims are completely unfounded and amount to nothing more than a figment of imagination,” Atikase said.
“No such occurrence has taken place at any time. The Honourable Minister of Interior has no connection whatsoever with the affairs or operations of the NDDC, and any attempt to link him to these allegations is entirely misleading and unjustifiable.”
Atikase further stated that the operational framework of the NDDC is independent and does not fall under the supervision or influence of the Interior Ministry.
According to Atikase, “The mandate, structure, and operational framework of the NDDC are distinct and independent, with clearly defined oversight mechanisms that do not involve the Office of the Minister of Interior.
“There is no record, directive, or credible evidence supporting such claims. The Minister has never at any time meddled with the activities of the commission, making these accusations not only false but also inconsistent with his established record.”
