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 

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.