Just in : Peaceful protest turns bloody as police allegedly kills one in Ozoro, Delta State~Matty Demes

Matty Demes

OZORO -  Following several  outcries,complaints and protest by members of the public, interest groups and concerned institutions on the rising  cases on police brutality, extrajudicial killings, harrassment and maltreatment , the residents of ozoro community in Delta State have been awakened to a "peaceful protest turned bloody as police allegedly kills one".

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Information which  reached our newsroom at about 10:05am this day 2nd August 2020, was that a young man whose identity is yet to be ascertained was alledgely killed by member (s) of the Nigeria Police Force yet to be identified too during a peaceful protest against police brutality in Ozoro around Ala square .

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Below however is an information obtained via an interview with an eye witness who pleaded anonymity during a chat session with Matty Demes delegate on arrival , viz:

Matty Demes:

"Can you please tell us what you know know about the event which led to the death of the deceased?"

Source :

"Well, the protest was about police harrasing and arresting boys . Most times what they do most especially if you are carrying dread , they would just hold you and tell you to bring your phone".

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Further speaking, "the next thing they do is take you to the police or the next thing they do is that they ask you to bring money. The young men being fed about the situation took it to the street with placards to protest so as to tell the Federal and State Governments about their pains and how the police are harrasing them over their rights and on that process, the police drove down the scene".

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"While trying to make an arrest precisely to apprehend the deceased, angry youths made attempts to restrict the apprehension which subsequently led to a forceful approach from the police and an inadvertent stab on the deceased thereby leading to his death".

Meanwhile, the Police was yet to confirm the incident aas efforts made to reach the authority prooved abortive upon arrival by the team.

MattyDemesBlog--------Broadning the horizon.

"The IMC must not relent, this FORENSIC AUDIT must be completed and those found wanting must be made to pay the price as a deterrent to others"~OJEMEH

Matty Demes

The major enemies of the current administrations are those instigating the NASS against the IMC, with a calculated attempt to disrupt the ongoing FORENSIC AUDIT, they pretend to be Strong supporters of Mr President and at the same time fighting, backstabbing the Government Appointees for their selfish reason.

The YOUTHS ACTIVIST Comr Ojemeh Emmanuel who gave the above assertion also pointed out that the Interim Management Committee of the NIGER DELTA DEVELOPEMENT COMMISSION will do BETTER if detractors will shelves their sword and take part of Peace added that the needed Change can only drive in a peaceful Environment

He therefore, urged the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC not to relent in their efforts to move the Agency of CORRUPTION free COMMISSION he noted.

 Mr Ojemeh, in a statement on Sunday, also advised the NDDC MANAGEMENT TEAM to ensure that the ongoing FORENSIC AUDIT of the Commission is taken to its logical conclusion.

He said efforts by CORRUPT POLITICIANS and some erring CONTRACTORS including Staff to frustrate the AUDIT exercise through cooked lies against members of the Interim Management Committee of the Commission should be resisted.

He challenged those he described as “faceless groups” behind insinuations that the current Management Team is allocating to themselves billions" to publish their facts, if any, or stop their blackmail attempt.

Going forward Ojemeh noted that the NDDC Interim Management Committee need the support of all, especially critical stakeholders in the region to succeed.

He said: “It is very sad that Niger Deltans especially some YOUTHS in the region have allowed themselves to be misled by CORRUPT POLITICIANS and erring CONTRACTORS who have been syphoning the patrimony of the Niger Delta through the NDDC.

These corrupt politicians and Contractors are enemies of the Niger Delta, they don’t want CHANGE; they want the status quo to remain so they can continue to fritter our wealth away, hence the Campaigns full of lies to detracts the Interim Management Committee from their mission drive and focused.

“They have thrown caution to the wind and are churning out outright lies through their proxies, hoping that their lies will stick in an effort to put a stop to the FORENSIC AUDIT that is being carried out in the NDDC.

The Interim Management Committee must not relent, this FORENSIC AUDIT must be completed and those found wanting must be made to pay the price as a deterrent to others.

“These corrupt politicians and contractors whose stock in trade is to get jobs from NDDC and after mobilization, abscond and abandon the project, have tried to compromise the IMC to no avail, they have now resorted to outright propaganda, blackmail and threat to life of Management Team Members, all in a bid to dissuade them from carrying out their mandate.

He said this is an opportunity to put the NDDC on the right part so that the average Niger Deltan can benefit from the NDDC as under her leadership, the NDDC will fulfill its mandate to the Niger Delta.

OJOUGBOH, OTHERS ATTEND OGBABURHON'S FUNERAL SERVICE

Matty Demes

Photo Credit: Mr Gabriel Choba

(SA Media and Communication, EDP NDDC)

The Acting Executive Director of Project, Niger Delta Developement Commission Dr. Cairo Ojougboh today on Saturday and other top government functionaries and politicians attend the burial ceremony of Late Hon. Chief Austin Ogbaburhon.

The burial ceremony which took place at Chief Ogbaburhon’s home town, Orhunwhorun, Udu local government area, Delta State was also, attended by Olorogun Jaro Egbo Ksc among others.

Dr. Ojougboh was among the first dignitaries to arrive Ogbaburhon’s country home being the venue of the funeral service for the late Chief  Ogbaburhon.

Dr. Ojougboh while feeding newsmen described late Ogbaburhon as principled, brave and “set an excellent example of leadership.” “He was a man of impeccable integrity,” “cerebral politician who did not play politics of bitterness.” Dr. Ojougboh said.

NDDC : UNFOUNDED POLITICAL BLACKMAIL AGAINST IMC WON'T STOP THE FORENSIC AUDIT AS ORDERED BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI.( Part one)~Vincent Oshiagwu

Written by :

Vincent Oshiagwu. 

Let me begin by stating unequivocally that the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC was established in the Year 2000 and since then, over five Trillion naira argueably have been pumped into the Commission with nothing on ground to reflect such lump sum.

Obviously, some greedy political thieves may have converted the said huge fund into personal money and nobody is raising a voice but we must get to the root of all that through the forensic audit whether anyone likes it or not.

The forensic audit in my opinion has come to stay until the committee conclude their noble assignment. I support in total the President's bold move and noble idea which was premeditated at ensuring a perfect accounting of the Commission geared towards a re-organized management structure for effective operation in the interest of the Oil producing states of Nigeria, the Niger Delta region. 

Sadly and most unfortunately, some persons openly criticized and condemned the move to the extent  one now wonders why the hues and cries from some quarters to the level that the mere mention of the forensic audit sends tension rising anywhere in the region, especially within the political bracket. Some politicians suddendly developed cold feet and became dead-scared of the outcome of the NDDC Forensic Audit and now doing everything practically and politically possible, including blackmail to ensure it does not see the light of the day.

The president in line with his antigraft war has chosen to rejig the commission after taking a cursory study of the rot and high profile looting alongside petitions bothering on fraud in the Niger Delta Development  Commission, NDDC. He decided that it will be worthwhile to know the history of funding of the commission, so as to chart a course for the future. This has today resulted in the forensic audit of the 19 years of the commission. In a sane clime, such good intention will be applauded.

For example, several comments, narratives and press releases have in the last couple of weeks greeted the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and the subsequent probing of the Interim Management Committee, IMC by the two chambers of the National Assembly, many of whom, themselves were fingered to be involved in the rot in the NDDC. Many too, who think the forensic audit can only be done over their dead bodies are unrelentedly fighting the audit committee and now see members of the Interim Management Committee as a political obstacle that should be crushed and removed at all cost before 2023, hence, hellbent on giving the audit committee some terrible names. 

At first, it was the allegation of a missing 40 billion naira which the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC management openly denied any of such lump sum missing from its confer. At some point, the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, former governor of Akwa Ibom state and one time two term senator, Godswill Akpabio was openly criticized for backing the Interim Management, IMC. Series of allegations of corrupt practices were levelled against senator Akpbio all in a bid to submerge and drown the audit to ensure the Interim Management Committee, IMC fails. 

The allegations against the IMC, range from awards of imaginary contracts running into millions of naira and many more which political analysts and observers saw as blackmails, cooked up lies and swiftly threw into the trash bin for lack of weight and evidence. In summary, the allegations against the IMC is unsubstantiated and borne out of fear of being exposed. Since then, the war of words between the two groups has continued to rage. In fact, it provoked national uproar. Out of fear that the Acting  Executive Director, EDP, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, a man of truth and impeccable character will always speak truth to power and expose criminal elements that placed the Commission in ruins without fear or favour , corruption began to fight back just to truncate the forensic audit. One thing, they failed. 

As the audit-provoked war raged, the NDDC came up with list of companies that were made to be paid by the commission on pressure from the NASS committee leaders. The audit was given the tone of a witch-hunting exercise and those who raped the Commission dry and silly since it's inception became so afraid of being called to give account of their stewardship. Many may have whispered that such communication style could attract more detractors and rather kill the audit scheme instead of enhance it. The question is why kill an audit intended to account for the stewardship of those who mismanaged the Commission for the past 19 years and  better the lives of the people of the region?

To be continued.

NASS LEADERSHIP : APC SUPPORT GROUP THREATENS PROTEST

Matty Demes

A Coalition of APC Support Groups South South has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to review the chairmanship positions of it is committees on NDDC in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In an open letter written to NASS tagged " REQUEST TO NASS LEADERSHIP LAWAN GBAJABIAMILA  TO PROBE/SACK COMMITTEE CHIARMEN ON NDDC AS A MATTER OF URGENCY AND IMPORTANCE" which was signed and disseminated by Comr. Lucky Onajite (Agbarho),

Secretary Coalition of APC Support Groups South South, the group has stated that  the party will no longer tolerate leaving viable and sensitive positions that has a direct  impact with PMB's mandate in delivering his administration's dividends of democracy and next level agenda to the people of Niger Delta region, in the hands of the opposition that will stop at nothing than frustrates PMB good works in the region.

Further stated in the letter thus, " let me inform all our members across the country that PDP which is the main opposition party in the country has held sway of the leadership of both committees of NDDC in the National Assembly since 1999 even when APC came into power recently. 

Therefore, we call on all good spirited leaders of our Great PARTY to rise to the occasion of saving our great PARTY from the imminent collapse and stop empowering the opposition party into juicy positions in the National Assembly or any other positions of GOVERNANCE in PMB and APC administration".

" As a result of the above mentioned realities steering in our faces as leaders and members of our great party APC, we call on the leadership of the National Assembly, Senate President and the Honourable speaker of the House  Representatives to change the current chairmen of both committees and replace them with APC law makers within two weeks that will support the good work Mr President is doing in the region. Failure, the Coalition of APC Support Groups will embark on a peaceful protest and occupation of the National Assembly, the National Secretariat of APC and the Presidency for a period of one week", it concludes.

Eid-el-Kabir: Ojougboh felicitates with Muslims, urges prayers for peaceful co-existence

Photo Source: Sunnewsonline.com

Matty Demes

The Executive Director of Projects Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr. Cairo Ojougboh has congratulated Nigerian Muslims on the celebration of Eid ul-Adha, urging prayers for peaceful Co-existence.

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In a statement with which through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Sir Gabriel Choba, a copy was received, the Acting EDP, has said that the celebration should be marked by a re-dedication to faith and complete submission to the will of God in other to build greater unity amongst Nigerians.

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In Ojuogboh's words viz , “I congratulate our Muslim faithful in Niger Delta and Nigeria in general as they celebrate the Eid-ul-Adha.”

Further speaking , “It is a celebration for Muslims all over to reflect and re-dedicate themselves so as to  increase their faith and remain close to God. Hence, it is worth honouring”

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“ As such, It is my wish that we all use this opportunity to render ourselves conscious of the importance of our faith and the significance of our submission to the almighty creator.”

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Meanwhile, as we celebrate in good fate, “I would not hesitate to  urge everyone to take responsible actions as we celebrate in light of COVID-19 and adhere strictly to all health and safety precautions". Ojougboh added conclusively.

NDDC PROBE: Dr Cairo Ojuogboh speaks on Contracts Disbursement.

The existing supposed relationship of checks and balance between the IMC and the NASS has without doubt been characterized with attacks and counter attacks from both ends lately.

Following the ongoing probe against the IMC audit team, it could be recalled that Dr Cairo Ojougboh, executive director of projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has earlier said that getting a contract at the agency is like winning a lottery".

As the agency, which  could be best defined as an eye  in the present storm over a series of allegations revolving around corruption and being investigated by the national assembly,  an interview with Arise Television dated May 25th 2020, which features Dr Cairo Ojougboh has accusatorily revealed that the past managements of the commission are being responsible for deep-seated corruption in NDDC.

According to the IMC's EDP Boss, The agency prior the inception of the IMC could award a project worth N700 million to a contractor but would unfortunately be  executed with just a sum of N10 million naira which is not even a percentage of the total amount given alongside output expected.

Further said, “Between 2016 and 2019, emergency contracts of over N2 trillion were awarded under the supervision of the chairmen of both committees,” Ojugboh revealed in his interview .

According to Dr Cairo, “The chairman of senate committee collected one thousand jobs and said he was going to give it to the senate. The records are there. The 1,000 contracts were collected by a man called Nelson Agbamuche on behalf of the senate".

Also speaking on the IMC's crisis, he also asserted that “The immediate crisis that came was as a result of the budget". And further making his points clearer as percieved , the crisis all began with a problem  that can be traced to NDDC 2016's budget. 

According to him, "The bureaucracy told us when we came in that there was no budget from 2016 to 2018. Still, The budget for 2019 was just passed some few days ago. What led to it?.

Infact, “A chairman of senate in 2015 called the bureaucracy that they need to include for him a N15 billion project in the budget. The bureaucracy said it was fair enough and therefore went behind and worked it out. When they came back, the chairman said I didn’t say N15 billion. I said N150 billion".

In response to the chairman's displeasure, “The bureaucracy went back but they couldn’t comply because there was no way they could do that. Notwithstanding the difficulty earlier experienced,  "The chairman went back to the bureaucracy asking them to award emergency contracts without due process. And that was how the emergency procedures were breached thereby leaving the commission with over a  N3 trillion commitment. How much more can this continue?"-He asked in grief.

Further said, “We were not paying as they used to. So, the contractors became very angry. Normally, once you have a contract in NDDC, it is like you have won a lottery. A contract that they will award for you in NDDC for N700 million, you can use N10 or N20 million to do it.”

Meanwhile , speaking before the house of representatives committee probing the commission on Monday 20th July'20, Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta affairs, has confirmed previous ulterations by Dr. Cairo  Ojuogboh as  regards to NDDC contract sharing and hijacking by members of the NASS. In his words, " Most of the contracts awarded by the NDDC are given to the National Assembly Members".

More interesting facts to be revealed. 

Culled from 

Niger Delta Today