ITS OKAY-NDDC : WHY ARE THEY SO AFRAID OF THE FORENSIC AUDIT ?~ Vincent Oshiagwu.

I have keenly watched and followed the recent probe into the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC by the two chambers of the National Assembly and shocked at the revelations and unwantom attacks on the Forensic Audit committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari which I see as a timeless necessity. And as a citizen of Nigeria and a Niger Deltan, posterity will surely judge me wrongly if I choose to be silent in the face of a high profile rot in a commission supposedly meant to better the lives of the people of the region but crippled by corruption. 

As far as I am concerned, an audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC is of immense imperative at this very critical period of our political sojourn and it must be done without any iota of politicking nor further delay or distractions to ascertain and expose criminal elements of the National Assembly and others as alleged by the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Those who serially raped the Commission dry and silly since it's inception in 2001, for example should be made to account for their unholy stewardship that created the ugly rot we are in today. By this, I mean they should be brought to book to face the law in the overall interest of our people who have been mostly robbed and denied the purpose of setting up the Commission ab initio.

Truth be told that many people, mostly senators and House of Representatives members from the Niger Delta region, for political reasons are against the Forensic Audit because of some fear of the unknown and sheer hatred for the Interim Management Committee, IMC especially Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, a Soja of truth who will never cover up the mess of any criminal element and it feels bad that those who have been mostly hit by the actions and inactions of these dubious elements in our midst are the same people calling for the head and even the disbandment of the IMC because they do not want the forensic audit to see the light of the day as it will expose their looting escapades. 

The Forensic Audit committee is just seven months in office and doing very well as expected by the President. This is an incontestable fact known only by people of sane mindset but what about those who have been running the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC for about 19 years?  They should be brought to answer questions too rather than attacking a team with good intention. Many of these lawmakers are indeed criminals who have converted the NDDC into a cash cow to milk money into their personal pockets and bank accounts. Why are they so afraid of the forensic audit if their hands are clean? 

You see, the most saddening and mostly shameful part of it all is that those who are suffering hunger, deprivation and poverty are joining these thieves to pull down the audit committee just to truncate their mandate and thwart their effort. In a sane clime, the people should be rejoicing that political looters and rapists who plunged them into untold hardship are being exposed to face the wrath of the law. Why not allow the committee conclude their assignment and probe them thereafter? To me, an auditor can be audited. With all of this comedy of absurdity, these lawmakers in my opinion are culpable and are even the real looters that should be investigated.

Given recent developments, however, I hope the two chambers of the National Assembly will get to the root of it all and identify culprits and bring them to justice for raping the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC dry and silly for many years. To be quite honest, the recent order of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Gbajabiamila on the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Senator Akpabio to produce names of corrupt members of the National Assembly involved in the rot in the NDDC within 48 hours is a clarion call that should be lauded by all Niger Deltan. Enough is enough.

vincentjude4c@gmail.com.

RE: ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HONOURABLE MINISTER GOD'SWILL AKPABIO - FACTS OF THE MATTER.

Anonymously Shared.

We are bewildered about this terrible image backslash and orchestrated grandstanding against the Honourable Minister for The Niger Delta, Chief God'swill Akpabio by Joy Nunie, former acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and are compelled to state the following facts relative to these occurrences. 

1. This is indeed a paradox and a calculated calumny to defame the person of the Honourable Minister in a power play quagmire intended to sap the goodwill and good intentions of God'swill Akpabio at the expense of greed and desire for the orchestrants to seek for relevance which they have long lost. 

From our findings and even from what we already know,  Akpabio can never and will never condescend too low as to possibly fiddle Joy Nunie either for sexual urge or gratification for political placement.  

For the avoidance of doubt, it is pertinent to state here that over 30percent of the Minister's workforce are women even of repute ever since he came into political limelight,  yet has he not witnessed a scandal of any sort whatsoever.  

Why would Joy Nunie choose this part of destruction?

Couldn't he (Akpabio) have gone after Bobrisky in order to satisfy that urge instead?  

For the avoidance of doubt,  the Palliatives were widely and succesfully distributed to nooks and crannies with proofs of collection from recipients/beneficiaries.  

SOME QUESTIONS 

Why do many Niger Deltans love to destroy our own?

Why do we always love to pull down our best? 

This was exactly what she intended to do with the man of David Ibiyeomie when she scandalously commented that the man of God was fake. It was the curse of the man of God that sieved her into the dustbin and she lost relevance before SHE ONLY WAS SACKED IN THE PREVIOUS BOARD. 

The hammer that fell on her was a proof that she has no honour for spiritually engraced offices nor respect for any constituted authority.  May God help her.  

 

2. We are actually in shock to hear Mrs Nunieh  Joy insinuate that Senator God'swill Akpabio compelled her to an oath of secrecy as proof of avowed loyalty which she said she resisted or refused on the ground of being a saint declining the offer of a sinner.  

So what then happened to the records and books of NDDC that showed how in her 6months of stewardship, approved for herself and collected monies meant for treatment of LASSA FEVER patients which ran into several hundreds of millions of Naira and diverted same into her personal coffers. 

With whom did she cut the secret covenant for this theft?

How come there were massive funds movement during her 6months stewardship yet genuine contractors reeled in persistent pain over Hugh interests accrued on their loans both from banks and black market lenders because they weren't paid?

Again the attempted arrest on her by a purported police command has really unearthed the fact that she lived a lavish lifestyle  that was not consistent with the paraphernalia of her office as an MD. 

How much is her monthly remuneration that she quickly moved into that highbrow palatial mansion?

We would love to really commend the Federal Government for your resolute fight against corruption but at the same time we would caution that you never allow sentiments to rule reason in a bid to getting this matter resolved. 

Giving the dog a bad name in order to kill it can  never light the darkness in the Niger Delta.  

Let us all team up to explore the enormous potentials in the Niger Delta rather than breaking horns in a bull-fight and getting the bull-shit in shame,  ignominy,  cracks and divisions. 

Long live Nigeria!

Long live Niger Delta!!

THOSE WHOSE HANDS ARE STAINED IN NDDC~Hon. U Itoro

Written by:

Hon. U Itoro

The Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC ) was established in June 2000 by the Obasanjo Administration with the mandate to bring accelerated development to the oil bearing States of the Niger Delta region.

In 2008, the Administration of then President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua established the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and made the NDDC which was already in existence a parastatal of that ministry with late Obong Uffot Joseph Ekaette as the pioneer Minister.

It is on record that NDDC was moved to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation . Curiously, no Niger Deltan has been Secretary to the Government of the Federation after late Obong Uffot Ekaette who served in that office during the Obasanjo Administration. So when the likes of Godsday Orubebe and Usaini Usaini served in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as ministers at various times, it is unlikely that NDDC was under the ministry's supervision. It obviously remained in the office of the SGF.

But in October, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari graciously extricated the NDDC from the Office of the SGF and annexed it to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. This came on the heels of appointment of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Minister of that Ministry.

Senator Godwill Akpabio the uncommon transformer took the mantle of leadership with the redeployment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC ) by PMB to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to enhance the quality of life and improve the living standards of the people in the Niger Delta through coordinated and appropriate programmes".

Senator Akpabio being a round peg in a round hole was chosen to faithfully execute the vision. His record breaking service as Governor of Akwa Ibom State may have propelled his choice.

Since the appointment of Akpabio as minister and the knitting of NDDC to the Ministry of Niger Delta many things to our value system have taken place.

Let us examine one very important point to our collective sensibilities. And that is while NDDC was domiciled at the office of the SGF, all of us were content without any complaints. Even though the occupants of the office over time were not Niger Deltans, our people preferred them even when they knew nothing about our pains, challenges and our fears.

Those people kicking and calling on Mr President to revert to status-quo are the enemies of Niger Deltans the same body they enriched themselves with but pride, pomp and pageantry has taken whole of them. As the saying goes, no man can understand a people’s problem more than the people affected. Yet in our disparate upbringing, we prefer the outsider who knows little about us to our brother who knows our problems.

NDDC is known to be in existence for about two decades. During the period, about N15 trillion is said to have graced the coffers of the Commission. But NDDC has nothing tangible to show to justify this whopping and mind boggling sum, yet nobody raised a whimper. Corruption eat into the Agency for 20 years with everybody looking the other way. Advocates and anti-corruption crusaders were lulled into slumber and everything appeared good.

But in the last few months, the entire Nation is wide awake to all kinds of allegations of corruption involving first N40 billion as against N15 trillion just because change is set to visit the Commission. Many believe that the deafening noise is part of the resistance to the change that is being envisaged in the Agency. Those whose hands are in the cookie jar do not want to let go resulting in the fabrication of weighty allegations against those commissioned to exact the change.

Moreso, why are the allegations of corruption coming at the time of the investigation of the activities of the Agency? Where were these advocates before now? Is it a case of politics and elections come 2023 or a case of manifestation of the popular phrase, "corruption fighting back? I have reminisced over this incident but without answers to what is happening.

It is intriguing that of all the boards, agencies and commissions that either custody or are allocated huge resources of government, NDDC is the one singled out for negative and unwholesome publicity. Sadly, some of those behind these scandalous acts are from the Niger Delta. But daily, NDDC loses development time with all kinds of distraction. Are those at the helms of affairs in the other agencies beyond reproach? Why is NDDC getting this special attention it never had in the past 19 years? These are basic questions Nigerians should ask.

But it is without doubt that forensic audit is ongoing. Those whose hands are stained with the 19 years of waste do not want the audit to see the light of the day. They would do anything to scuttle it.

This is a tug of war between people who are willing to take the darts to protect the interest of the people and a few corrupt elites who want to sustain the status-quo.

As Niger Deltans, we must carefully choose where we stand in this war less we lose the chance of this liberation that is about to come through the leadership of Senator Godswill Akapbio.

IYC 2020: "As far as I am concerned there is no contest but the need for an election only stands as a fair play ground in adherence to the principle of democracy". M.T Demebide, Nacsp.

Following the quest  for the next team of administrators of the youth wing of the Ijaw Nation under the auspice of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, Master Tony Demebide, Nacsp.  An indigene of the  Ijaw  Nation from both Delta and Bayelsa states has casted a vote of confidence for Comrade Obiri Ebilade Esq. , who aspires to serve the council as a legal advicer and in same regards congratulate him in advance.

In a statement which was signed by the Ijaw breed  which reads thus; " I have sat quietly and watched from a hill top several  political interest which are all evident with rainbow like campaigns and social media displays. But without doubt and with a high sense of optimism, I am sure comrade Obiri will come out victorious. Hence, I congratulate him in advance". 

Further stating , " as far as I am concerned there is no opposing party and contest  but the need for an election only stands as a fair play ground in adherence  to the principle of democracy".  

Meanwhile, the optimistic ijaw breed has also advised all aspirants, delegates , committee and coordinators alongside law enforcement agencies to shun electoral violence and put forward first the life of every individual as previously done by not just the former president of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan but an hero and father in the Ijaw Nation which has made him stand out in the global world today.

Conclusively however, "as we all vote and contest for several positions, the Ijaw kena wen mo ideology should be our priority . If  you happen to win, do not neglect your opponent and if it happens it is not yet your time, humbly accept in good fate and support the other. Meanwhile, I also extend my congratulatory remarks in advance to you all as I have done to Comrade Obiri Ebilade,Esq", he said.

POLITICS : RELISHING THE PACEMARK OF A PACESETTER, DR CAIRO OJOUGBOH

Written By:

Ojemeh Emmanuel

Unarguably, one of Delta State's seasoned political icon endowed with immeasurable quintessence and dexterity towards advancing the course of humankind, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh's astituteness and political dossier will blow your mind anytime and any day.

Indeed , his landmark achievements and strong political tentacles that cut across the Nigerian political sphere speak volumes of a pragmatic leader with a difference and clear vision to liberate the oppressed.

Going by his professional training as a medical doctor coupled with his robust political record, this rare breed and energetic political trailblazer is both a great gift and priceless asset to humanity. 

Little wonder he has continued to capture the attention of reknown democrats in the political field of play  due to his obvious sagacity and clear demonstration as a man who knows his values and the rules to abide regardless of the circumstances he faces while speaking for the downtrodden.

Call him the "Soja" of truth or truth personified, you are neither wrong nor far from the truth. It has remained the core of his integrity and influence over the years to lead forthrightly.

In fact, it has really endeared him immensely to the hearts of his people and true democrats and allowed them to understand the political values they are committed to uphold and relish. 

As a union leader as an undergraduate during his days in the University, he stood firmely that equity, justice and fairplay have no substitute and he has till date justified this truism through his resillience to uphold it and constantly demonstrating that politics is service to the people; what a rooted humanist.

Often misunderstood for gluing to the side of truth at any given time and his ideas misconstrued by naive political opponents, the one-time Federal Lawmaker, has remained unmoved and unperturbed for as long as truth remains the only potent weapon againt misgovernance and injustice. It will therefore, not be out of place to call the traducers of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh the haters of truth.

For example, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh has neither minced his words nor shifted his grounds on his irrevocable commitment to ensuring that the well-nourished and well-nurtured impunity in Nigeria is eradicated in the interest of Nigerians and our narcent democracy. A gross impunity and this is what Dr. Cairo Ojougboh stands against and as he often express "Impunity anywhere is the height of political rascality, intimidation and oppression and it is unhealthy and unacceptable".

On my end, I can't help nodding in agreement with this rare breed medical doctor cum politician that impunity is anti-democracy and open injustice in its entirety. 

In fact, am delighted at Dr. Cairo Ojougboh's stand against it especially as he firmly hold onto his stands.

NDDC LOOTS: HOW THEY GANG RAPED, PILLAGED AND PLUNDERED NDDC FOR 20 YEARS -Ojemeh Emmanuel.

Written by:

Ojemeh Emmanuel

The siege over the years is  finally over and sanity is coming to the most violated, plundered, pressed, squeezed, ravaged and raped institution in the  East of the Niger- Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

The  19 years siege on the Commission is over as the Interim Management Committee led by Prof. Kemebradikumor Daniel Pondei and backed by the supervising Minister, Godswill Akpabio dares to tread where others has failed.

For the first time, the real tormentors and looting experts in the Nddc from the defunct OMPADEC have been axed.  Indeed, since the President approved a Forensic Audit of the bleeding Commission, all hell has been let loose as Senior Civil Servants who were green snakes under green grasses have been massively transferred out of the Dappa Biriye Building, Headquarters of the Commission.

Infact, the last straw which was discovered, investigated and cancelled by the IMC management was an illicit contract letter awarded as a result of a conspiracy by a serving Director in charge of procurement who in cahoots with some National Assembly Members  to illegally award a contract for the supply of COVID-19 equipment to the nine states under the NDDC with primary aim to syphone. 

To this aim, the letter which was unauthorized by the Management alleged that the contract was awarded to a company called SIGNORA to the tune of N5 billion; indeed, an act of inhuman treatment detrimental to the development of the Niger Delta region . However, the effort was aborted as the management found out and sought to investigate those behind it.

Meanwhile, the senior staff involved in the illicit award letter quickly played a fast one by making the said letter public, in a bid to indict and cause public opprobium against the IMC and the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio. 

A game of wits you may say, Yes! a diverssionary tactics indeed.

Of course the scandal trended in the cyber space and all mass/social media platforms. Not deterred by non jurisdictional impediments and deterritorization, the finetunned and polished illicit act which was not detrimental to the uninvolved IMC was  now rattled a the public outcry against the IMC and the Minister.

However, the Management yesterday after a meeting, took a stern decision to punish all those who were part of the sleaze and the plot to further cast aspersions on the integrity of the Commission.  Meanwhile, they were all ordered to go on a compulsory leave with which  they would be retired from there.

It is no longer news that these set of Civil Servants have held the Commission hostage with fake and inflated contracts, fraudulent payments and padding of emergency jobs which they award to their companies through some of their cronies and other youth organizations. They had consistently blackmailed every politician appointed into submission, to either do their bidding or be petitioned out. Every document in the Commission want being  photocopied and transmitted to certain "Youths" who are on their payroll to carry out the nefarious activities of holding Press Conferences and petition writing to EFCC and ICPC. 

These groups of public servants claim to run things in the Commission and had ways of covering their tracks. Yes! , they have been their for too long and they aid and abet the politicians assigned to manage the affairs of the Commission alongside their long over due stay.

With a huge financial war chest, they can prosecute and sponsor any media war against any management who would not suit their purpose. But unknown to many, these set of senior staff flaunt their wealth often sourced in a saint like corrupt manner unhindered. Infact , they own porsche hotels and houses all over the country and even overseas; What an illicitly achieved wealth.

Infact, the latest trend in the media and sponsored attacks on the present Management was triggered as a result of a  catalysis caused by an unfavorable view of Akpabio's audacity and that of  the IMC to transfer over 50 of them, who have held the Commission and the Niger Delta region hostage for almost 20 years. 

Also, the decision by the President for a forensic audit which has lasted for over 6 months is another reason for the heightened media attacks and trial of the Management. 

For the 19 year period under probe, the PDP held sway for 15 years under President Obasanjo, Yaradua and Jonathan, while the APC under President Buhari has been in charge for 4 years. Presently, the Senate Committee on NDDC at the National Assembly is headed by PDP members who were alleged to have paid their ways into those Committees.  They have been at logger heads with every management appointed by Buhari to head the Commission, contrary to the easy passage of Budgets and approvals in the past when their party held sway. 

Surprisingly, the NASS is controlled by the ruling APC, yet, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the APC controlled Management of the Commission to have easy access to funds for the development of the region. 

The big questions  viz.

Who is then responsible for this mess?

Could  it be an orchestrated plot by some people to frustrate the development of the oil producing states which have been the pillar of the Nigerian economy? .

The intrigues and power play behind the scene will shock many as details of those involved will be unveiled soon.

 Stay with me as I bring you more shocking revelations.

NDDC: Right Group ask Tunji-Ojo to step aside as House Committe Chairman over weighty allegations of Corruption

Following the 'walk out' which took place during a meeting of the House Committe on NDDC with the Interim Management Committee of NDDC, a Right Group known as Crusade for Democracy and Good Governance (CDGG) has called on the House of Representatives' Committee Chairman on NDDC, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to immediately step aside for probe over the weighty corruption allegations against him on NDDC matters.

In a press conference held Friday after a crucial meeting of the Right Group over the continued attacks and counter attacks between members of NASS and IMC, the Executive Director of CDGG, John Oghenekevwe Ifaka PhD, wondered why the Leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives are still keeping mute over the public outcry on weighty allegations against their NDDC house committee Chairmen.

The Right Group said; "We are pained to come out and speak following the walk out that took place in the Reps house committe on NDDC where it's Chairman, Hon. Tunji-Ojo was asked to step aside because he is an interested party in the allegation issues surrounding the commission. 

The right Group said; "We want to state unequivocally that we have watch carefully how these NDDC NASS committee Chairmen of both Senate and House of Representatives use board Members of the Commission to award phatom contracts to themselves and even got paid without jobs done and the IMC which is overseeing the Commission have severally raised allegations against these two house committee Chairmen, but the NASS leadership have allegedly hiden these accused members under their canopy as if nothing has happened as regards fraud in the Commission for over the years.

"Nigerians hereby demand that the Chairman House of Representatives' Committe on NDDC and the Chairman Senate Committee on NDDC, Sen. Peter Nwaboshi should immediately step aside for probe over the Allegations against them and allow the vice Chairmen of the Committees take over in Acting capacity which is the only way for a soft landing and proper investigations on both sides as commanded by President Muhamadu Buhari yesterday Thursday." 

"The NASS leadership should look into these issues as Niger Deltans and Nigeria at large are watching with vested interest the unfolding attitude of NASS as regards probe of NDDC. We have also carefully viewed the submission of the IMC on monies spent in the period of time they came in and discovered that all their financial transactions followed due processes according the Procurement act." 

While we thank President Buhari for quick intervention in the battle against the IMC, we however urge the House of Representatives Leader to as a matter of urgency ask the Chairman House of Representatives committee on NDDC step aside for equity and justice in the ongoing Investigation as regards NDDC. 

"We also warn the former MD Joi Nunieh to stop acting scripts that has no meaning in the presentations of reports in the probe. We wonder how a disciplined women with high pedigree could go so low to accuse a Minister of corruption and sexual harrassment when she allegedly paint companies were is a director, millions of naira. It is a shame on those allegedly sponsoring her to malign The Honorable Minister of Niger Delta".