Latest news

NDDC: Akpabio Holding N’Delta To Hostage, Forensic Audit Scam – Traditional Ruler

Published

3 years ago

April 18, 2021

Editor

… Advocates Constitutional Responsibilities For Royal Fathers

The Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom Ethiope West Local Gove‎rrnment Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty, King Obukohwo Whiskey Udurhie 1 has described as scam the most talked about ‘Forensic Audit’ of the Nigeria Development Commission, NDDC, set up by Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to audit activities of the commission.

He also described as illegal the setting up Interim Management Committee and Sole Administrator to pilot affairs of the commission, noting that the Act that established the commission does not give room for that.

His Royal Majesty who made this known while interacting with Benin based journalists in his palace over the weekend, noted that as an oil-producing community no one has come to his domain to audit any NDDC’s project neither had he seen any in the whole Niger Delta region.

The Royal Father who lamented that over two years the development agenda of the region has been held hostage by Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Affairs due to his unwillingness to set up the commission’s Board, stressed that in spite of this anomalies about N500bn has been budgeted for the NDDC.

He said, “The NDDC is our general concern and we will not sit down and allow one individual in the name of Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to hijack the commission to the extent that for two years the commission does not have a Board. What they have is a self-imposed Interim Management Committee and lately, it has gone worse that they now call it a Sole Administrator.

“To start with, the NDDC Act 2000 does not recognise the Interim Management Committee, not to talk of Sole Administrator. Of course, we are all witnesses to the fact that under the Interim Management Committee, N87 billion allegedly grew wings and flew out of the coffers of NDDC. A budget of about N500bn has been passed for the NDDC for an individual to superintend and we are saying ‘No’ to Sole Administrator in NDDC.

“The Idjerhe clan in Delta State is a major oil-producing community and for two years, NDDC has not done anything here because there is no structure there. What it translates to is that for two years, the development agenda of this kingdom and several others have been held hostage by an individual who is the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs.”

He continues, “It is now very clear that the Forensic Audit of the cCommission is a scam. Nothing is going on there. As a major oil-producing region, nobody has come to my domain, Idjerhe, to say they want to verify the project of NDDC in the region. With over 50 communities in my domain, there are abandoned NDDC projects, so, if they are carrying out forensic auditing they would have visited some of the projects, but they have not come here.

“So, I can boldly tell you that the NDDC forensic audit is a scam perpetuated by an individual to hold the whole region hostage. There is no probe of any kind that does not have a life span.

The last time, the minister said he was going to inaugurate the board in April, this is past mid-April already and nothing seems to be happening. What they refer to as forensic audit is a scam.”

The Traditional Ruler who once served as National Director of Media and Publicity, HOSCON, expressed worry over outright disregard to laws that govern institutions in the Niger Delta region particularly as regards its development.

He accused the Federal Government of collaborating with Akpabio to undo the Niger Delta people, expressing the fear that one day a government will come and scrap the commission with the happenings in the NDDC.

He, however, said as a person who has been in the forefront of the Niger Delta struggle, he will not fold his arms and “watch the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio to completely hijack the Commission.

“From the happenings we are beginning to think that the Federal Government is collaborating with Akpabio to undo the Niger Delta people and one of these days they will wake up to scrap the commission. We will not take that, we will continue to speak. We are saying categorical no to sole administratorship,” he said.

He called on the National Assembly to urgently put their house in order and inaugurate the NDDC board.

Speaking further, the trained journalist advocated constitutional responsibilities for royal fathers in the country, stressing that they are closer to the people and they have the native authority over the people.

He said, “As a royal father, before the advent of the colonial masters, the administrative institution of this country was in the hands of the royal father. I want to re-advocate that we need constitutional responsibilities for royal fathers in this country. They are closer to the people and they have the native authority over their people and when you look at them critically, the governor of Delta State, for instance, is in Asaba. As the royal father of my kingdom, I have three Dukes that report to me. The farthest is 30 kilometres away, while the closest is 10 kilometres.

“There is nothing that happens in those areas that I will not get the report in less than 20 minutes. But certain things will happen here and it will take the governor at least two days to be aware, while the same information will get to the President in almost a month. So, if you give the traditional rulers constitutional responsibilities, it will smoothen the administration of this country, enhance peace and security. The moment we have peace and security, the development will be rapid.

“When I ascended the throne there were lots of problems but we had to address the challenges and today there is peace in the land. The government will not come down to the level of the royal fathers. The royal fathers can come down to the level of culture and tradition of their people.”

Up Next

Judiciary Autonomy: Lawyers Denied Access To Edo Govt House

Don't Miss

Delibrate Underfunding Of NMU Invitation To Crisis, Traditional Ruler Warns

Comments

Latest news

Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

Published

10 months ago

July 22, 2023

Editor

Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

Business

Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

Published

12 months ago

May 18, 2023

Editor

Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

“In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

Latest news

Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2022

Editor

The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.