Before the embargo of the National Assembly, the IMC has paid N 33 billion Naira - ODILI

Culled from NDDC Official page.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has again debunked allegations of missing funds, saying only N33 billion has been paid to its vendors since the inception of the expanded Interim Management Committee, IMC.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt on Monday, the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr Charles Obi Odili, explained that the N33 billion that was paid was just a very little part of a debt portfolio of about N2 trillion.

He said, “the Commission has paid what we describe as historical debts amounting to about N33 billion from the inception of the expanded IMC on February 20, 2020. The historical debts cover debts to our vendors; some persons who have been owed between N1 million and N3 million, some for over seven or eight years.”

Mr Odili noted that the payments were actually intended to alleviate the sufferings and plight of Niger Delta people, adding: “The essence is to save lives and livelihoods of the Niger Delta people because some people borrowed money from banks to do little supplies and some of them got very ill and were in the hospitals and there was nothing that the IMC could have done but to assuage to this very humane issue and I think that any compassionate person anywhere in the world will do same.”

He said the historical debts, which have been settled to a large extent, included the Commission’s obligations to those who do supplies and render services, like hotels and other things to keep the organisation running. Explaining why some NDDC contractors have not been paid, Odili said: “the National Assembly has instructed us not to pay for road projects and most of the contractual obligations we owe to our contractors who are complaining are those who have done majorly road projects. So, we have an instruction from the National Assembly not to pay and we are abiding by this instruction. When it is lifted, all our contractors, especially those who have done road jobs will get their payments.”

According to the NDDC Director, “the Commission has a debt portfolio of about N2 trillion. So, when people say that we have paid so much they do not know that we have just paid very little from the avalanche of debts that we owe as an organisation and sincerely no organisation will want to be in a situation like this.”

Odili said: “A large percentage of the N2 trillion has to do with emergency projects. When the budget doesn’t come on time as at when due, some managements have taken recourse to this line of action to solve an emergency and often times because the budget is not available, the emergency often runs for a long time and this is rather unfortunate. It is not a thing that we are continuing with. But we are dealing with it as something that happened in the past.”

Lamenting that the 2019 budget of the NDDC was never implemented because the final budget got to the Commission six weeks before its expiration, Odili appealed for a quick approval of the 2020 budget. “Once that is done a lot of things, a lot of actions will be expedited,” he said, adding that “When there is a staccato of voices, where there is a lack of unanimity of purpose, as we have seen in recent times, the Niger Delta region suffers for it. The IMC was instituted by Mr President through the Office of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to provide the enabling atmosphere for the forensic audit to thrive. We should not detract from this assignment. Let us give them a chance to succeed.”

Charles Obi Odili

Director, Corporate Affairs

June 22, 2020.

WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS TO NIGER DELTA STATES - NDDC BOSS

The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, says the Commission distributed sophisticated medical equipment as part of its contributions to the fight against the Corona Virus, COVID-19, pandemic.

Speaking during an audience with the leadership of the Niger Delta Youth Council at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, Prof Pondei explained that the intervention of the NDDC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic came in three parts; namely: supply of medical equipment, provision of palliatives and public enlightenment.

He stated: “Before the COVID-19 lockdown, we had applied for approval through the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for COVID-19 intervention. The major part of it was medical equipments, then the second part was palliatives (food items) the third part involved publicity.

“Approval was given by the Federal Executive Council, and the approval letter asked us to inform the Federal Bureau of Public Procurement, since it was an emergency. It clearly stated in the letter to expeditiously do that at the end of all this. We have distributed the medical equipments to all the nine states in the Niger Delta region.

“The medical equipment included ventilators, mobile x-ray machines and PCR machines which are the only things that have not been distributed due to the fact that we are trying to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC to increase the testing capacity in the Niger Delta region.” The NDDC Chief Executive Officer said that the NCDC was supposed to calibrate and deploy the 54 PCR machines and mobile x-rays, which, he said were not available in many hospitals in the region.

Pondei stated that the frequent changes of management was effecting the performance of the NDDC, noting that on account of the changes, payment to contractors were often delayed even when they have achieved agreed milestones. “Frequent change of management cannot bring the kind of development we are looking for in the Niger Delta,” he said.

The NDDC boss stated that the Interim Management Committee, IMC, had not awarded any other contracts apart from the ones with Presidential approval, explaining: “What we met was historical debts. The first payments we made for contracts were the ones the National Assembly asked us to pay. And most of these debts were historic debts. We have not done any illegal payments. We have paid people who were owed.”

Pondei conceded that the National Assembly had the constitutional right to investigate the operations of the NDDC. He, however, appealed to the lawmakers to also extend their oversight function to helping the NDDC to get the oil companies to meet their statutory obligations to the Commission.

Addressing the issue of payments for the NDDC Permanent headquarters, Pondei noted that the building was started by the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission, OMPADEC, and in 2010 the board of the NDDC decided to terminate the contract. To make this possible, N500 million was approved by the Federal Executive Council to buy off the previous contractor.

He explained: “Somewhere along the line in 2016, the board of the Commission under Nsima Ekere, awarded the contract to RODNAP. I can assure you that we did not award any contract to RODNAP. We met them working there, and payments were done even before we came.

“On the issue of certificate of completion, the building is not complete. We have only moved there to fast track the work because we want that building commissioned. The President in his democracy day speech said that the NDDC's building will soon be commissioned and to me, it is a charge to go and get that place ready for completion and commissioning.”

Speaking earlier, the leader of the Niger Delta Youth Council, Mr. Samuel Ebiesuwa, said that they needed clarifications on the allegations being made against the NDDC in the mass media. He said: “We have met members of the National Assembly and stakeholders in the Niger Delta, so we deem it fit to hear from the NDDC. We see the resources of the Niger Delta as our commonwealth and will not allow the NDDC to be used as conduit pipe to syphon money that belongs to the entire region.

“There is an allegation that a contract was awarded during the COVID-19 lockdown to Osmoserve Global Ltd on April 20, 2020, for the emergency supply and deliver of medical equipment to the tune of N729, 203,137.50. We want to get NDDC’s response to this and other allegations.

OJOUGBOH REASSURES COMMITMENT TO FORENSIC AUDIT, SAYS NO GOING BACK ON OUR MISSION TO SANITIZE NDDC

Reported by: Master Tony.

The Executive Director of Project Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) DR CAIRO OJOUGBOH has restated it commitment to ensuring efficient FORENSIC AUDIT of the commission as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Dr Cairo Ojougboh, who disclosed this at the NDDC Head Quarter in PORTHACOURT recently, said that the committee was poised to stop CORRUPTION and restore SANITY measure to the Commission.

“It will interest you to know that some times ago, Governors of Niger Delta States visited President Buhari to complain that the NDDC had fallen short of what it was intended to be in recent time.

Therefore, they asked the president to look into its affairs again, where one of the Governors said the NDDC has become a CONDUIT for FRAUD and a BLUEPRINT for CHEATING in the Niger Delta.

Based on the complaints from the leaders of the Niger Delta, Mr President instructed that a Forensic Audit be carried out and Interim C'ttee should be set up to look into the management of the NDDC while the operation lasted.

Meanwhile, Dr Ojougboh, had earlier revealed that the NDDC is currently indebted to some “Big Weight” Contractors huge amount of money running into trillions of Naira.

He said one of such contractors was awarded over 300 multi million Naira contracts by the NDDC, out of which 120 of them had been fully paid for even when he had never mobilised to any of the sites.

He alledged that the particular contractor was mobilising thugs in the Niger Delta, especially in Bayelsa and Delta states to instigate the people to prevent the FORENSIC AUDIT.

“If you look at the records at the NDDC, you will cry, some GENUINE People that have done jobs for the Agency have not been paid for over 15 years and their families are suffering. Many of those who were paid are these big Weight Contractors,” Ojougboh said.

NDDC AWARDED NO CONTRACT TO SENATOR GODSWILL AKPABIO, HONOURABLE MINISTER OF NIGER DELTA AFFAIRS

NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION(NDDC)

PRESS STATEMENT

NDDC AWARDED NO CONTRACT TO SENATOR GODSWILL AKPABIO, HONOURABLE MINISTER OF NIGER DELTA AFFAIRS

Our attention has been drawn to a statement by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) awarded a contract of N500 million to the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, which he did not execute.

The Commission wishes to state that it has searched through its records and there is no evidence of any contract awarded to Senator Akpabio or any company associated with him by the NDDC.

From our findings, the person who has questions to answer to the Niger Delta People is Senator Nwaoboshi. Our records show that Senator Nwaoboshi used 11 front companies (owned or traceable to him) to secure a contract of N3.6 billion in September 2016, in what is perhaps the biggest single case of looting of the Commission’s resources.

The said companies/business names are:

i. Noan Integrated Services;

ii. De Towers Constructions & Allied Services Ltd;

iii. Franstine Nigeria Enterprises;

iv. Edrihide Company;

v. Isumabe U.K. Global;

vi. Benchmark Construction & Allied Services Ltd

vii. Millstone Allied Builders Ltd.;

viii. Nelpat Nigeria Company;

ix. Agh-Rown Ventures;

x. Edendoma Stars International; and

xi. Antlers Construction and Allied Works Ltd.

The inventory records show that these items were supplied and received on Senator Nwaoboshi’s business premises and warehouse. Meanwhile, the contracts were awarded to him.

However, some of the items supplied to Nwaoboshi’s warehouse through his cronies, were later resold to the Delta state government, while the others were sold to other states through contracts awarded to him.

All supply agreements were signed by one and the same person being Mr. Agbamuche Nelson, traceable to Senator Nwaoboshi. This is in flagrant contravention of section 58(4) (a) and (d) of the Public Procurement Act. No wonder Sen. Nwaoboshi and his cohorts are jittery about the ongoing forensic audit exercise in the NDDC and are doing everything possible to derail it.

We believe that until Senator Nwaoboshi can absolve himself of his role in the looting of the resources of the Commission, he should step aside from any investigative activity against the Commission.

NDDC deserves the freedom to deliver on its mandate.

Charles Obi Odili

Director

Corporate Affairs, NDDC.

I DIDN'T INSTRUCT ANYONE, AGENCY TO PROBE MINISTER - OMO-AGEGE

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has denied asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

According to Senator Omo-Agege, a letter said to have emanated from the Clerk of the Senate, acting on his behalf and requesting the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr Ibrahim Magu to investigate the Minister did not come from him.

Describing the document as fake, the Deputy President of the Senate insisted that he never instructed the Clerk or any other person to contact the EFCC to investigate any individual.

A statement signed by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Deputy President of the Senate, reads: "The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has been drawn to a letter dated 7th May, 2020, purportedly written by the Clerk of the Senate acting on behalf of the Office of Deputy President of the Senate requesting the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and monitor the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and one other.

"This Office hereby states that the said letter is false, fake, malicious, mischievous and vexatious.

"This Office never instructed the Clerk of the Senate, or in fact any person, to write to or contact the EFCC in relation to any person.

"In the light of the foregoing, we wish to urge the public to disregard the fake letter, same being the handiwork of a person or persons with criminal intents".

Signed:

Yomi Odunuga,

Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Deputy President of the Senate.

7th June, 2020.

NDDC: Groups calls out omo-agege to concentrate on legislative duties, shun his dirty politicking for 2023 and stop the attack on Akpabio and the IMC

Reported by: Master Tony.

A coalition of Niger Delta groups have called out the deputy president of the senate, Ovie Omo-Agege to stop the unnecessary harassment and petty media war he has commissioned and currently sponsoring against the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

In a press statement by the coalition coordinator Amb. Kendigha Justice in Bayelsa state, the coalition stated clearly that proper investigations have been carried out and those behind the current media attack and protests just to discredit the good works of the honourable minister of Niger Delta Affairs have been unmasked. Instead of facing the various humongous and bogus legislative responsibilities before him, he has chosen to lead a squad of pull him down syndrome. He is busy running from pillar to post with all sorts of pettiness and frivolous allegations to deride a man that is saddled with the responsibility of developing the Niger Delta region as initiated by Mr. President.

"He is therefore forewarned to call his commissioned acolytes and those he has contracted to carry out all sort of silly acts or meet stiff resistance from youths of the Niger Delta Region.

Recall that the president in a letter signed by himself in December, 2019 reinforced the supervisory power over the affairs of the commission to continue resting with the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio who is obviously committed to delivering the president's vision and mission for the mass development of the Niger Delta Region.

You may also Recall that the President through the advice of the honourable minister of Niger Delta Affairs; HE Godswill Akpabio, around October 2019, approved and appointed an Interim Management Committee to oversee the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development commission (NDDC) accounts. This forensic audit was also backed by the 9 Niger Delta governors who are statutory members of the commission's advisory committee.

Since the inauguration of the IMC by the honourable minister, he has been faced with series of unfounded allegations by those who feels threatened by the auditing to unravel their loots in the commission.

The IMC which have just handed over all requisite documents and verification reports few weeks back to the forensic auditors that was contracted by the federal government have not also been left out in the current media rascality.

Findings have also revealed that those that sponsored the failed and disbanded screened nominees of the NDDC are at the forefront of this new media onslaught and sponsored street protests. They have vowed to continue discrediting the IMC and the audit to look like a sham so that the president can heed to their greedy demand of swearing-in their disbanded nominees.

The coalition noted that as already been cleared by the Acting Executive Direct project of the Commission; Dr Cairo Ojuogbo, there is no element of truth in those flying documents of indictments against the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, the IMC or it's members.

The coalition sends strong warning to senator Ovie Omo Agege and his bandwagons of greedy politicians in the Niger Delta region bent on milking the commission dried and to oil their 2023 selfish political ambitions with the resources for the development of the Niger Delta to stay off the progress being made at the commission.

"We also want to draw the attention of Mr. President; President Muhammadu Buhari, governors of the 9 Niger Delta states and the entire people of the Niger Delta to ignore the ongoing desperate activities of these actors. Furthermore, we are reminding Mr president that same Senator Ovie Omo-Agege he cautioned few months back from acting as the GCFR of the country has now changed modus-Operandi just to gain traction in his cruel demand."

We are appealing to Mr President to be weary of the antics of Omo-Agege who is leading this onslaught on his appointees and bringing his administration to standstill with the powers he equipped him with.

Editor-In-Chief: M.T Demebide, Nacsp .

CEO,Matty Demes Services.

Contact: 07066377668.

RAPE : A physical, internal and life time brutality.

Written by:

Sani Abdulmalil Omale.

INTRODUCTION

It is with due course that the phenomenon called rape be given high and immense attention, for it is a social problem that seem to affect every corner of the society; some unreported, others reported but being mocked at, while some reported but due courses not being taken to curb the menace. As such, as each day passes by, the phenomenon gets high on the rise. There are times we wonder and pounder, why and how it happened, even in sacred grounds, people are now being victimized, some being brainwashed not to inform others, while some threatened . In this regard, the need arises to direct attention to the issue of rape.

What is rape? :

This is considered as the forcefull or illegal means of having sexual intercourse with a person with or without his or her consent or will. It can also be seen as a type of sexual assault which involve sexual intercourse or other forms of penetration carried out against an individual without his or her consent.

The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or against a person who is incapable of given valid consent, such as the unconscious, incapacitated (below a stated legal age)' (World Health Organization, 2002).

However, this issue is not just limited to a particular gender, but rather it affect every gender, instance include male to male, male to female, female to female, female to male and even at times humans to animals, such as goat, pig, dog among others. Moreover, some of this rising issues of rape include the raping of Uwa, a Uniben student who was raped in the church, A 12year old girl who was brutally raped by 11 abled men in Jigawa state, the raping of Barakat, a student of University of Illorin in Ibadan, and also Micheal, who was raped by three women, A male teacher who was raped by his female students, who in turn went to coma, a 14 year old student who was reportedly raped by his teacher in Ogun State amongst others.

Motive behind involvement in the act of Rape :

According to WHO (2002), the principal factors that often leads to an individual(s) involvement in rape also referred to as sexual violence includes the following, Viz:

1. Beliefs in family honor and sexual purity

2. Attitude of individuals towards sexual entitlment

3. Weak legal sanction

4. Victim precipitation which others often considers as the most (improper dressing).

Irrespective of what the motive of rape may be, one do not have any moral or legal justification for engaging in the act of rape, for the act is considered as immoral and illegal in every sphere of life among which include religious tenents, morality and even legality. As such, all of this fabrics considers rape as illegal and inhuman.

Meanwhile, some of these are usually instigated by show of pride and honor,because some victims becomes reluctant to report in a bid to protect the family's name, thereby making the perpetrators go unpunished.

Effects: There are so many effects that surround the act of rape. However, such effects would be seen from three perspectives. As follows:

1. Physical/ Biological Effect

2. Psychological trauma

3. Social effect

1. Physical / Biological Effect:

This includes the alteration of the victims biological or physical attributes, either physical bruises or the deformation of his or her body system. This however are usually done when the victim is aggressively raped,brutally coerced to give into the act. In some cases, this act of rape is accompanied with the transmission of sexual transmitted diseases such as HIV among others.

2. Psychological trauma:

This can be considered as the most devastating effect of rape. This is because it tends to affect both physical actions of the individual towards his or her society, the constant fear of being raped again(repeated victimization), show of distrust and may even lead to loss of thought and consistent mood swings among others. 3. Social effect:

This however, range from one community to another, and it is based on the fact that, some community will seek for concealment while others will seek for public intervention and also justice. However, some of the social effects includes stigmatization, mockery from the community members or gate way to prostitution among others.

WAYS FORWARD

As the case maybe, the act of crime is not just a thing of the law enforcement agency, as such, the need for all hand to be on deck becomes imperative, for crime and law is a business that concerns everybody, as such, the need for the following becomes imperative:

1. Community based alertness/neighbourhood watch:

In every community, for something to go wrong , they often exist an insider therein. As such, the community have a big role to play so as to remain steadfast and stand upright in the fight against injustice among which rape is considered as a lifetime injustice.

2. Early Report to Law enforcement agency:

In the Nigerian scenario, there exists a high level of distrust and mistrust among the public and the law enforcement agents, as such, the need for the law enforcement to remain stead firm on their ground to fight the act becomes imperative, for if 9 out of 10 perpetrators are brought to book to account for their malicious and mischievous act, then certainly, the public will not hesitate to report their issue to law enforcement agencies. 3. Family Alertness:

The family has a big role to play in fight against rape. It has been observed that 5 of 10 cases of rape are carried out by significant members of the family such as uncles, aunties, nephew, niece, brothers/ sister, teachers, neighbours, religious leaders, bosses, among others. In this sense, the need arises for members of the family to be alert and sensitive to the moods,emotions and psychological behaviors of their wards .

4. Early Sex Education:

It is also imperative for parents and educational institutions to teach wards/pupil proper sex education, the need to have a heart to heart conversation becomes necessary. This would play a preventive role in the sense that if anybody touches them inappropriately, they should scream and also report to their parent and the children should also be cautious of what they wear as this factor is considered a prominent cause of the rising indices of rape in the society.

5. Public Enlightenment on morality:

It is observed that in present days, we are often more concerned about what we want and not what the society actually want, thereby forgetting more of our moral tenet and acculturate to what is considered as myopic civilization, which is however considered as another rising problem in Nigeria. As such, so many tend to misunderstand immorality with civilization. Notwithstanding the positive impact of civilization, there is need to uphold morality which would be evident in our manner of dressing and words we speak.

6. Severe punishment:

With regards to rape control via punishment, the utilitarian views of a criminologist, in the person of Jeremy Benthem, which frontiers " the greater good for the greater number of people" can be applied. This is becaus, rape tends to affect a large proportion of the society ranging from a single individual, family and also the society at large. As such, severe sanctions has to be put into consideration. For instance, the passing of a bill in india that specifies a death penalty on rapist, Nigeria can also review her laws to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book and anybody who want to venture into the act,would have no other option than to think twice before they engage in the act of rape.

CONCLUSION

The act of rape is a crime, a crime which stays for a lifetime, carried out within a minute or even seconds, an act that tarnishes ones dream and moral justification, a show of shame. As such, the need for me, you, the government and her agencies to stand up and fight against the act becomes highly imperative.

Thanks you for your time.

Sani Abdulmalik Omale.

Editor-in-chief: M.T Demebide,Nacsp.

CEO, Matty Demes Services.

Contact: 07066377668.

Delta Student Body 'NADESSTU' Calls for the immediate removal of Commissioner for Education

Reported by: Master Tony.

The National association of Delta State Students often referred to as NADESSTU which stands as the umbrella body to all indigenous students of Delta State, and on the other hand tends to bridgen the gap between the State Government and students of the state, has called for the removal of the state's commissioner for higher Education.

In a letter addressed to the state Governor, His Excellence Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa which was signed by the Comr Godwin Saturday's led executives , it has been stated that the commissioner for higher education in the person of Prof. Patrick Muoboghare is unfit to oversee the educational sector in Delta State. Hence, the need for an immediate removal.

As stated in the letter, the second tenure of Gov Okowa's administration which brought about a reshufflement in leadership positions thereby bringing in Prof. Patrick Muoboghare has twarted the Governors unconditional desire to move the student body forward.

Further stating, the first four years of the Okowa's Administration witnessed a robust and cordial relationship between all stakeholders in the education sector and where there were hitches, issues were resolved on a round table amicably. Indeed, the office of the Honourable Commissioner (Jude Sinebe) was home for students, students leaders and all concerned, describing the previous tenure.

However, with the resumption of Prof Muogboghare to office, The student community which without doubt is the most intellectual, vibrant and restless part of the state, anticipated a changed and more impacting personality different from what was previously witnessed in Jude Sinebes' time as the commissioner of higher education during former Govenor Uduaghan's Administration. To the surprise of everyone, nothing seem to have changed rather things became deteriorative , oldfashioned, primitive, antiquated , and not in tune with 21st century leadership skills, as displayed by Prof Muogboghare.

Further stating, the cabinet reshuffle of theIt is on record officially and via other medium that all avenue to interact with the ministry of Higher Education on issues affecting the welfare and interest of Delta State students has failed. As such only a calm, responsible and responsive personality should man the office of the Ministry of Higher Education.

In this regard, following the woeful failure of Prof. Patrick Muoboghare as Commissioner for Higher Education as described in the letter, the association (NADESSTU) has called for the removal of Prof Patrick from office because he has been considered unfit to hold any public office in Delta State.

In line with this, NADESSTU has given a fourteen (14)days ultimatum with which any failure to do this would attract a public action via peaceful protests and demonstrations.

Meanhile in a concluding statement, the association categorically stated viz: "We know our Governor to be a listening man, we hereby anticipate and await timely action on our humble request. While we await approval of our request, we hereby declare Prof. Patrick Muoboghare “PERSONA NON GRATA” on all of Delta State Institutions and urge our members to embarass him if found trespassing 200meters away from our campuses".

Editor-In-Chief: M.T Demebide,Nacsp.

CEO, Matty Demes Services. Contact: 07066377668.

NDDC: Clark Writes Open Letter To Senate President, Reps Speaker

June 3, 2020.

By Chief (Dr.) E. K. Clark, OFR, CON.

The happenings in the NDDC, since the dissolution of the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Bill over 20 years ago for which I was very much involved, have been of great concern to all of us in the region, having regard to the amount of money sunk into the Commission by the Federal Government (FG), but there is nothing to show for it. The NDDC is an intervention agency brought about to salvage the people of the Niger Delta Region, but this purpose has completely been defeated. And that is why as a leader and major stakeholder, I have to speak out openly.

As leaders, elders and youths of the Niger Delta region, most of us fought for the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission, risking our life and all that is dear to us; for these persons to blatantly rob the people of the Niger Delta, if these allegations against them are true, is murderous. Those, whose blood was shed, fighting for the development of the region, would be rolling in their grave. To show how much I have been involved in this cause right from inception, I reproduce here an excerpt of a Communiqué we issued at the end of one of the several meetings we held in the course of the struggle for the development of the region:

“COMMUNIQUE OF THE ONE-DAY MEETING OF THE SOUTH-SOUTH PEOPLES CONFERENCE (SSOPEC) HELD AT THE PETROLEUM TRAINING INSTITUTE (PTI), EFFURUN, WARRI, DELTA STATE ON THE 9TH OF OCTOBER, 1999

PREAMBLE:

…. The meeting which was held to hear the Report of the 13-man SSOPEC Delegation to Abuja in August to meet with Mr. President, Chief OlusegunObasanjo, GCFR, and members of the National Assembly concerning amendments to the Presidential Bill on the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC ); and to propose further amendments necessary to protect the interest of the Niger Delta people was presided over by the SSOPEC Chairman, HRH Pere (Dr.) H. J. R. Dappa-Biriye; and supported by the Deputy Chairman of SSOPEC, Chief E. K. Clark.

The meeting also registered the attendance of His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah, Executive Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Government representatives of the South-South States, Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, Opinion Leaders, Women Groups, Youths and Non-Governmental Organisations.

SUMMARY OF RESOLITIONS:

Having heard the Report of the SSOPEC Delegation to Abuja and inputs made by Conferees, the following resolutions were taken:

That in Nigeria our governments are cognate in power-sharing. Therefore, the coastal States in the Niger Delta Development Commission are entitled to two hundred (200) nautical miles into the sea as part of their areas for working out their dues. Beyond this point and up-to some three hundred and sixty (360) nautical miles Nigeria’s Federal Government and the International Community can combine to reap the resources of the sea. These are prescriptions of modern laws of the sea approved by the United Nations. It is necessary that these features be spelt out in our Niger Delta Development Act for endorsement by our National and State Assemblies;

SSOPEC supports the youths’ attitude towards the issue of Oil and Gas Companies operating in the zone to have their headquarters within the States in which they operate. The Federal Government should extend its objective policy of relocating corporations, firms and establishments to areas where they should be properly sited especially in the South-South which is at present the haven and bowel of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas resources; SSOPEC noted that the recent crises in the NLNG, Bonny and NNPC, Port Harcourt would have been averted if the headquarters of these companies are sited in the right locations; and that this policy will mitigate the restiveness of the youths in the Niger Delta….;

That SSOPEC supports the idea of having the headquarters of the NDDC in Port Harcourt where land is available for the projects as indicated in a diagram brought to the meeting by the SSOPEC Chairman; and that branch offices must be created for each Member State of the Commission;

That if OMPADEC is to be scrapped as mooted in the NDDC Bill, then the NDDC must have the political goodwill and adequate funding to address the problems of poverty, neglect and backwardness in the Niger Delta; and that like the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), debts owed OMPADEC Contractors must be paid by the Federal Government to reduce the financial burden of the NDDC and to allow for a better focus on the management of new project priorities;

That SSOPEC should organize a Youth Conference to properly articulate and synchronize the position of the youths and elders in the South-South zone in order to ensure peace, unity and progress in the Niger Delta.

…. Finally, that SSOPEC Delegation with a mandate to lobby for the inclusion of the protective clauses for the Niger Delta in terms of structure, scope of functions and finding should be commissioned immediately to leave for Abuja.

Signed

HRH PERE (DR.) HAROLD J. R. DAPPA-BIRIYE (OON; JP)

Chairman, SSOPEC”

The leadership of the two Committees on Niger Delta Affairs both in the Upper and Lower Legislative Chambers has been accused by previous Managements of the NDDC, but they (the previous Managements) did not have the courage to speak out.

Part ofthe current Acting Managing Director of the Commission, Prof.Pondei’s statement as contained at pages 25 and 26 of the Vanguard Newspaper of Saturday, May 30, 2020, said “We have faced so much pressure from some members of the National Assembly not to send certain files to the forensic auditors…. We have refused to pay out ₦6.4 bn for the 132 jobs which have no proof of execution…. The 2019 budget was passed two months to the end of its implementation period. In fact, the hard copy was received by the Commission on April 10, 2020 when the implementation period ends in May 31…. Two, the budgets are bastardised by the National Assembly in a way that renders it all useless. A case will suffice. In the 2019 budget, we had a provision of ₦1.32 bn to pay our counterpart funding to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the $129.7m Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Programme in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND). The National Assembly cut the provision to ₦100 million. Are we going to IFAD, a United Nations agency, to tell them to bring their $129.7m when our National Assembly says we can only pay ₦100 million out of ₦1.32 billion obligationthe National Assembly members insert items we have no plans for these items are then forced on the Commission when it is not part of its master plan…. While acknowledging that the National Assembly reserved the right to probe the NDDC…. We suspect that the probe being trumpeted by the National Assembly is not for altruistic reason but an attempt by some members to arm-twist the IMC”.

The Acting Executive Director, Project (AEDP), of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh on his part, talked of how some members of the National Assembly (NASS), including the Senate Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs, and the House Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs, are openly and flagrantly committing fraud. The facts the AEDP laid bare are very incriminating of these members of the NASS if proven. He said “…. Another company called Candour went to LNG and claimed they were the ones who initiated statutory payments from LNG. And the company belongs to a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The letter says they collected $28 million and then exchanged it for₦360 to a dollar. As at that time the exchange rate was not ₦360 to $1. The CBN was exchanging for ₦225 to $1. And at the end of the day, they asked for 20% of the $28 million. They were paid. They wanted to continue. Senator Akpabio said “no”, that this is fraud against Nigeria and hell was let loose. They claimed that this is the money used to work in the National Assembly in Abuja. According to the Chairman, if there is any contest in the National Assembly, this is where they source the money from. The IMC wrote letters to these contractors and because of that they declared war on the IMC”.

The AEDP stated that a sitting Senator, in 2018, got a contract for the supply of plastic chairs and tables to Secondary Schools in the Niger Delta region for the sum of ₦3.7 billion. These plastic chairs and tables were also released to the custody of the same supplier/contractor. It is even more absurd because my findings reveal that this was an extra budgetary expenditure as it was not contained nor provided for, in the 2018 Budget of the Commission. How can such sum be spent on the purchase of plastic chairs and tables, in a region that is so greatly impoverished and devastated? This is outrageous.

The AEDP also alleged that one thousand jobs which were not contained in the Budget when it was submitted to the NASS were added to the Budget of the Commission byboth the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs and the House Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs, and it was discovered that neither the Senate President nor most other Senators knew of these jobs, same for the Speaker of the House of Representatives and most members of the House. Here is what he said “Let me make it clear, the Hon. Speaker and the President of the Senate are not aware of what the Chairmen of the Committees are doing in the National Assembly. And even members of the Committee are not also aware. It is just one-man squad. Between 2016 and 2019 emergency contracts of over ₦2 trillion were awarded under the supervision of the Chairmen of both Committees. And I have the list of how the contracts were distributed. In the list the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta collected one thousand of those jobs and said he was going to share it among the Senators, but the Senators denied knowledge of such files. We have the records”. He also talked about some contractors collecting as much ₦1 billion every month as charges for collecting statutory revenues from oil companies. As a matter of fact the allegations are legion and scandalous.

The AEDP even alleged that no action has been taken on the 2020 Budget of the Commission which was submitted to the NASS, because “they are asking for all sorts of things”.He said “How did the budget run into problems? The bureaucracy told us when we came in that in 2016, there was no budget. 2017, there was no budget. 2018, there was no budget. The budget for 2019 was passed some few weeks ago. What led to it? When a Chairman of Senate Committee came in 2015, he called the bureaucracy of NDDC and told them to insert jobs worth ₦15 billion for him. They went back and complied. But when the budget was sent to him, he said he did not mean ₦15 billion, but ₦150 billion. The bureaucracy went back but could not comply because there was no way they could do that. The Chairman advised them to award the jobs as emergency jobs so that they won’t go through due processes. That was how the emergency procedures were breached and the Commission presently has liabilities of over ₦3 trillion…. The Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta came to us and brought out emergency training programme for ₦6.4 billion and said that the Commission should pay him ₦3.7 billion. We said this milestone you are talking about cannot be paid because you have not done it. He said the job belongs to the Speaker and we said we cannot pay. We went and met the Speaker and the Speaker said he was not aware of such thing. This was not in the budget at all. When they passed the 2019 Budget, the Chairman, House Committee included it and insisted we must pay the money and we said we cannot pay. They said the IMC has stolen ₦40 billion. How can that be possible?”

But in the face of all these allegations which the Acting Managing Director and the Acting EDP have leveled and backed up with facts and documents, the House Committee on Niger Delta Affairs is bent on carrying out an investigation into the activities of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Commission.

In statements credited to the Chairmen on Niger Delta Affairs in both the upper and lower legislative Chambers, they have denied all the allegations.

The AEDP in his interview, has exonerated both of you, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House, that you are not aware of these activities of the Senate Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs and the House Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs. This is good to hear. One is not against the NASS performing its oversight functions; at the same time, there is need for it to investigate these scandalous allegations. And in doing so, equity and justice should prevail; both the Senate Committee Chairman and the House Committee Chairman of the Niger Delta Affairs should step aside, because as it is said, they cannot be judges in their own matter.

The allegations made against both Chairmen are too weighty that they cannot be swept under the carpet. Their off the cuff statement or explanations are not enough at all. A new investigative panel should be constituted to investigate both the IMC and these members of NASS.

Issues of corruption in the NDDC have become endemic. It was as a result of these complaints, that Mr. President, promptly and courageously appointed the IMC, to supervise the Forensic Audit which he had also set up, to investigate all the alleged corrupt practices that had been perpetuated in the Commission, before a Board will be inaugurated for the Commission. Any attempt to distract from Mr. President’s directive that forensic audit of the NDDC should be carried out, is unacceptable to the people of the Niger Delta. We are solidly behind Mr. President in this his directive.

For some time now, Niger Delta leaders led by me have unfortunately failed to condemn these few corrupt members in the NASS, who have converted and are still converting the NDDC into their personal farm yard. That is why there is always scramble and manipulations to be Chairmen and members of this “juicy committee”.

The oil in the Niger Delta was deposited there by God Almighty knowing the type of difficulty and swampy terrain He has put us in. Therefore, for the proceeds of these resources to be fraudulently taken by people who want to egocentrically enrich themselves, is unacceptable and will be resisted. This has gone on for too long and has to stop.

I want to place on record that had God in His infinite mercy and wisdom not endowed the region with such resources, it would have been difficult for any government to remember us. Even with the resources, we have to agitate to get development when the Colonial Government set up the Willink Commission of Inquiry in 1957 to look into the issues of our utter neglect. It was this Commission that designated the place a Special Area for development.

We will no longer tolerate this criminal exploitation of our resources.

Therefore, Mr. Senate President, and the Right Honourable Speaker, if nothing is done, and urgently too, to investigate these grievous allegations leveled against these members and by extension the National Assembly, I must say that it will erode the confidence people, especially, Niger Deltans, have on the National Assembly.

Thank you.

Chief (Dr.) E. K. Clark, OFR, CON

Leader, South-South

VICTIMS OF RAPE AND TRAUMA

Written By: Abdulrahman Ismail

03/06/2020.

There are various social problems bedeviling our society and that affected significant number of people and is still affecting populace, rape is among those problems that are perpetrated on daily basis across our country.

Rape simply means the act having sexual intercourse with a person against his will and using coercive means. This could be by a man against woman or by women against a man but mostly men are rapists.

Rape is one of the serious crime against person and the future and destiny of the victims of the rape is entirely dark, characterized by trauma and stigma within same society where the victims reside. One of the unfortunate thing sometimes is, significant number of the victims dies unmarried because of so many reasons.

Today is someone's sister, daughter or mother, if care is not taken tomorrow could be your mother, daughter, sister or even a wife and imidiate family relatives. please Lets say no to this inhumane act and do the right thing for social stability to reign.

It's absolutely wicked for a person to destroy someone's life just to satisfy his 10 minutes psychological or biological urge. Think twice my brothers! Ten minutes pleasure and a lifetime of trauma and stigma which at times predisposes and trigger victims to commit suicide are worthy to be rational enough to say "no to rape"

Certainly some victims displays some level of carelessness by being at a right place but at a wrong time, dressing half naked, moving freely without capable guardianship amidst an invitation to potential rapists especially in an areas/places that are more prone to criminality.

What so ever the case is, one has no rational Justification or defense to commit rape! I repeat no justification for rape, it's Inhumane and babaric, unholy and criminogenic, madness and nasty, cruel and satanic, unjust and myopic to engage in such a serious crime against person.

WAYS OUT

For us to reduce the chances and tendencies of rape in our societies, there is need for everyone to act and play his responsibility. In other words, a father should act as a father, mother as mother, teacher as teacher, police as police, judges as judges and all other stakeholders.

Punishment for rapist should fit the act of the rape, the punishment should be severe, certain and swift, there should be no fear or favour in dealing with the perpetrator, irrespective of status, every one found wanting should face the wrath of law in exchange for their barbaric act. This will serve as deterrence to both the offender and the general populace that the crime of rape doesn't pay.

Also, I call on the relevant authorities concerned especially Criminal Justice System particular the gate keepers ( police) to fear God and work with utmost sincerity in investigation and arrest of the perpetrators of this crime for the betterment of the system and for the safety and survival of citizens.

Community members and family shouldn't fail to report rape cases to authorities, sometimes the cases are not reported and that's why things are not normal, the inability to report is associated with the fear of stigma from family, friends, business partners, co-workers and societal members.

i urged men to please devoid from stigmatizing the victims and therefore endeavor to Marry them, talk to them, don't let them feel embarrassed, noture them, treat them with respect, care for them, make them happy, let them feel involved not otherwise, help them, take good care of them because they deserve our care and attention, what happened to them is not their fault, the fault is on the rapists.

Finally, let's all bear it at the back of our minds that the victims of rape owes me, you and the entire society. A justice which must be paid back by inflicting pain on the rapists.

Ya Allah save our sisters from devils covered by human flesh. Amin.

Editor-In-Chief:M.T Demebide,Nacsp. CEO,Matty Demes Services.