News
Dissolve NDDC Board, CSOs Tell Buhari
A coalition of six Civil Society Organizations CSOs led by Guardians of Democracy and Development has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari asking him to dissolve the recently screened board of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to allow for an unfettered forensic audit of the board under the supervision of the Interim Management Committee IMC.
Convener of the Coalition, Comrade Solomon Adodo equally asked the Senate to invalidate the screening of the NDDC Board conducted by its Committee on NDDC, saying one of the lawmakers (name withheld) is an interested party who nursed strong bias to protect his interests.
The CSOs noted that since the establishment of the NDDC only very little has been achieved even as it was for several years “converted into a cash cow for a few unpatriotic elites of the region at the detriment of the collective interest of the people of the Niger Delta region. Thus, the good intentions of the government were deliberately sabotaged and truncated by this thieving band who saw nothing else beyond self.
“We humbly call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately dissolve the recently screened NDDC Board nominees to allow for the unfettered forensic audit of NDDC under the watch of the Interim Management Committee”, the CSOs urged.
Speaking further, the coalition said; “It is on this note that we herein fervidly convey our total gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for directing a thorough forensic audit of the financial accruals and expenditure of the Niger Delta Development Commission since inception. This is about the biggest singular blow being dealt with the monster of corruption by the current government on account of the fact that trillions of naira have been misappropriated or stolen from the NDDC. The bold step by the Minister of Niger Delta – Sen. Godswill Akpabio in an interim management committee to oversee the forensic audit is very welcome and deserving of the support of all Niger Deltans and Nigerians in entirety. The concerted efforts of the looters and culprits to frustrate the Minister and the Interim Management Committee must be met with stiff resistance by all Nigerians of goodwill.
“For the records, a lot of fraudulent acts of financial graft have been unearthed. Incontrovertible facts show that some Senators from the Niger Delta region have held the NDDC by the jugular and consistently bled the Commission. Particularly, a Senate Committee Chairman (name withheld) has been making outrageous demands from the NDDC and when the Board could not meet these demands through a normal process, the budget of the Commission for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 were not sent to the National Assembly and in its place the NDDC Management was intimidated into awarding emergency contracts only for three years thereby abandoning the Niger Delta Development Plan and Legacy Projects. In the process, the Senate Committee Chairman was awarded a total of one thousand contracts which he claimed he shared to Senators. The salient question arises to wit, should the contracts be shared among Senators or awarded to competent contractors? The Senate Committee Chairman therefore blatantly raped the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and abused the NDDC Act.
“Let it be noted that these emergency projects were not executed while the monies meant for the projects were pocketed even though the said contracts were awarded at very highly inflated sums. Therefore, nothing is on ground to justify all the huge expenditure of the Niger Delta Development Commission so far. For the said years of 2017, 2018 and 2019, over one trillion naira has been expended on these so-called emergency projects without budgetary provisions or even actual execution of the projects. This is a monumental fraud that must not be swept under the carpet. We also have it on authoritative records that the said senator was receiving the sum of one billion naira monthly from the LNG funds of NDDC until this sacrilegious ritual was stopped by the Interim Management Committee. All these incontrovertible findings are pointers to the fact that the senator is an interested party thereby invalidating the screening exercise which he conducted in a very biased manner”, the coalition stated.
The CSOs, therefore, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to commence the immediate prosecution of those already investigated for dipping their hands in the NDDC pie.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
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