The South East Zonal Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Chimankpam Ogbonnaya, has condemned what he described as the intimidation and harassment of the Managing Director of SEDC, Mr. Mark Okoye, when he appeared before the Senate Committee of the organisation.
He said the belligerent attitude of some committee members towards the Managing Director did not reflect the process of an interactive session of such a meeting.
Barr. Ogbonnaya regretted that instead of allowing other officials of the commission to make contributions during the session, they chose to adopt a master-servant attitude in handling the issue.
According to him, contrary to the claims by the committee that SEDC was reckless in the disbursement of funds, facts available suggest otherwise.
“For instance, the so-called office accommodation is not a one-room apartment but a duplex, and its procurement followed due process,” he submitted.
He also regretted that the manner in which the media feasted on the harassment of the officials was a testament that it was a setup.
He said, “Some people made it a media issue for political gains, and it was unfortunate because almost all the committee members are from the APC, same as the appointees.”
Ogbonnaya said all internal mechanisms of oversight were not exhausted, yet the committee members decided to embarrass the APC government.
He was of the opinion that all mechanisms relating to committee oversight functions ought to have been followed religiously.
He said that apart from the fact that funds are disbursed for specific projects approved in the budget, there is also a cash plan, as well as authority to incur expenditure, which is reviewed and approved by the Federal Ministry of Finance. SEDC cannot, at any time, circumvent any stage as insinuated by the Senate Committee.
He wondered why the Senate Committee on SEDC expected the agency to stockpile released funds in the bank instead of disbursing them on approved projects.
He noted that the ridiculing of the SEDC MD and the agency by the Senate Committee was in bad taste and urged those responsible to refrain from actions that would paint the South East as an unserious zone. :::
