By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
A cry of concern has been raised by a community leader of Palam and Mildu, Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State over the negligence of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to the entire Northern Senatorial Zone of the state.
Joseph Pius Wadzamda, a youth leader of the Palam Ward, decried the manner NEDC left communities in Madagali, a local government area ravaged by Boko Haram as the first victim of their attack, with less attention.
Wadzamda said NEDC under the leadership of Mohammed G. Alkali is on a selective mission, concentrating in those areas where Boko Haram attacks were not worst hit.
He wondered why the commission was established to cater and bring about economic vibrancy in the area, but since its formation, according to him, many communities in Adamawa State have seen NEDC as a mirage than an agency formed to revive the area.
A youth leader of Mildu Community, Anthony Aberakwa is of the view that Alkali lacks what it takes to manage the commission and the better option is that he should be relieved of his duty and a competent person that can be fair to all victims of Boko Haram in the North East, appointed.
Aberakwa while calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Alkali over his alleged selfish treatment of many communities in Adamawa North, said the only project done by the commission is the Kuzum’s Bridge in Michika and as far he is concerned, the work is substandard and does not meet the terms of references and specifications.
According to him, the substandard work is because the contractor is not from the area and Alkali awarded contracts to people from other parts of the country who do not know what they went through during the insurgency worst days.
He said using home-based contractors will bring about good work and their conscience will prick them to do the right thing.
“The President should relieve Alkali of his duties, I don’t think he can work in the interest of all people.
” Since the commission came to be, nothing of immense value was done in my local government of Madagali, the worst hit area by Boko Haram.
“And the only work done in Michika is the construction of Kuzum bridge, but I tell you, that bridge is of low quality, I can’t see a federal government standard in the work.
” The contractors are all from another part of the country, but I’m of the view that if the work will be given to our sons and daughters, the job will be neatly done because their conscience will never leave them to do the wrong thing.
“We are capable and qualified contractors that can handle all forms of contracts the NEDC want, it’s better to give them than giving it to those that do not know what we went through during the Boko Haram days of attacks,” Aberakwa said.
Efforts to reach out to Alkali, the NEDC media person by our reporter proved abortive as the numbers were not being picked at the time of filing this report.
