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NDDC Conundrum: More Questions than Answers! By Ayo Oyoze Baje

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HOW LAURETTA ONOCHIE IS FIGHTING TIMIPRE SYLVA'S GUBERNATORIAL AMBITION.

NDDC Conundrum: More Questions than Answers!

By Ayo Oyoze Baje

Quote:
“It is shocking that after the FEC, the highest ruling body in the country, had awarded a contract for the same project in 2021 at the sum of $11.7 billion for the construction of same Mega railway spanning through the length and breadth of the Niger Delta, that anyone would be signing an MOU on behalf of the NDDC and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the same project in 2023 without due process”
 – Ms Lauretta Onochie (Chairman of the NDDC governing board)
As with running the lives of individuals, there is always a difference between motive and method for that of conducting the affairs of public and private organizations. The facilitating factors that come into play; to oil the engine of growth and drive such dreams to the light of day are predicated on vision, character, commitment and of course, accountability.


NDDC Conundrum: More Questions than Answers!
By Ayo Oyoze Baje
 Whenever one or more of such catalysts are lacking, the process is derailed, leading of course, to preventable pains of those who are supposed to benefit from it all. And that precisely is what has played out with the noble objectives of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
It would be recalled that the Niger-Delta Development Commission (Establishment etc) Act2000 Act No 6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria came as an Act to provide for the repeal of the Oil, Mineral Producing Areas Commission Decree 1998.  Among other things, it was meant to establish a new Commission with a re-organised management and administrative structure for more effectiveness.
Furthermore, it was meant for the use of the sums received from the allocation of the Federation Account for tackling ecological problems which arise from the exploration of oil minerals in the Niger-Delta area and for connected purposes. That came into effect on12th day of July 2000.
Unfortunately,  the noble aims and objectives of its coming into effect  under the then President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had over the years got de-branded with the issues of corruption, incompetence and gross mismanagement of its resources. Terribly bad, you might say!
But it even got worse when it had no Board to effectively run its affairs for six odd years! By law it was supposed to be under the presidency. The change in the narrative however, came when former governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Godswill  Akpabio became the Minister of the Niger-Delta. It was he who appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to place the NDDC under the Ministry of the Niger-Delta.
Ever since, it has been mired in one steamy scandal, controversy or the other. That was what necessitated the setting up of a forensic audit by the president to take a deeper look into the conduct of its financial transactions.
Interestingly, that opened up the can of worms with the alleged discovery of monumental corruption as 320 illegal accounts-both local and international- were traced to the Ministry by the forensic audit. That was in 2021 when the Report was submitted to Mister President.
Ordinarily, oil companies operating in Nigeria are supposed to pay 3% of their running costs to the NDDC but going by the allegations of corruption Buhari ordered that such sums should be collected by the EFCC. Other reports revealed that within that period it collected a whopping N710 billion on behalf of NDDC!
Buhari  was compelled, in his characteristic manner of transparency and probity to come up with the appointment of someone of proven integrity; someone with a proud pedigree of discipline; who attaches little value to material things. There comes in Ms Lauretta Onochie on whose behalf the president wrote to the Senate for confirmation back in November 2022.
Having worked with Mister President for seven good years, which provided him with the opportunity to study her true persona he knew that she was going to toe the path of honour and honesty. And that she did when during the first meeting of the NDDC Board it was mutually agreed that financial transactions must be approved by her person, as the Chairman for accountability and transparency.
In addition, such financial transactions were to be communicated to the CBN, the Accountant General’s Office and of course, the Minister of Finance. But the MD  of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku was vehemently against that significant decision.
Furthermore, he wrote a letter to counter the decision insisting that the status quo should remain. That audacious attempt to shake the NDDC table triggered some burning questions. Is it true, as alleged that the humongous sum of N50 million is always paid for trips made by the trio of the Managing Director of the NDDC, the Director of Finance as well as Projects for assignments carried out outside Port Harcourt? Is it also true that the monthly running cost has been increased from N6bn to N10bn? Yet, that was not all to it.
 Why would contractors be paid huge sums from the public purse without the knowledge of the NDDC Board but with payments approved by the head of the former interim management?  Why were the Board Members from Abia and Bayelsa states the ones to benefit from payments? And why are the NDDC Board members not given official vehicles? There was certainly more to it all than met the eye!
In fact, the last straw that broke the camel’s back in the cat-and-mouse game between the Minister of the Niger Delta and the Onochie-led Board of the NDDC came to the fore when the former went ahead to host the PPP Summit recently held at Eko Hotel in Lagos state without the approval of the latter!
Worse still, it went on to sign an MOU with an American company,  Atlanta Global Resources Inc., which according to Onochie has no requisite experience in any form of construction, not to talk about  railway construction! Onochie stated that the company in question is a management export consulting firm without known directors!
Describing the MOU as illegal she quoted that: “(a) By the act establishing the NDDC (Act No 6, of 2000), it is the Chairman of the board that is solely vested with the power to sign MOUs with any organisation. She added Part II of the NDDC Act, Section 8, sub sections (a) and (e), among other provisions,.
The Chairman of the PPP Board Gbenga Edema who hails from Ondo state is also a Commissioner with the board. Though he was supposed to report to the Board, he was allegedly ignored by the management.
Subsequently, all these shenanigans have dovetailed into the call by her traducers for Onochie’s removal from office. And that is all because she is firmly standing on her ground, insisting that she does not want the smelly Augean stable to remain in its mess!
Indeed, she reminds one of the late DG of NAFDAC, Prof. Dora Akunyili who epitomized diligence to duty, discipline and strict adherence to the dictates of the law.  Characteristic of her resolute stand, she wants things done within the ambit of the law, no matter whose ox is gored!
Unfortunately, the face-off has led to a situation whereby not much has been achieved by the NDDC in the past six months. The NDDC Executive Director Finance and Administration, is Maj-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd), while  the Executive Director, Projects is  Mr. Charles Ogunmola. The Minister of the Niger Delta is Umanna Umanna.
So, while the elephants fight it is the hapless and long-suffering Niger-Deltans that continue to stew in the quagmire of preventable pains and poverty.
The clarion call has therefore, come up by concerned Niger Deltans for President Buhari to do the needful, even in his last days in office. They are urging him to amend the Act,  If possible, issue out an executive order to correct the anomalies and check mate the financial reckless of the Ogbuku-led management. That is, by giving executive powers to the Chairman of the Commission, similar to what OMPADEC had in place before it was dissolved.
With that, the incoming government will have an enabling legal environment to facilitate a holistic development of the oil-rich Niger Delta, so that the goose that lays the golden egg is effectively taken good care of.

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Celestial Church Debunks False Reports

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Celestial Church Debunks False Reports

Celestial Church Debunks False Reports

Trailing Arson, Looting of Parish in Ajah

…as mob attempts to kill Shepherd and Assistant

Authorities of the Celestial Church of Christ have issued a statement to debunk false reports, including videos that some people have posted on the Internet aimed at tarnishing the image of the church, after tragedy struck at CCC Overcomers Parish, Oke-Ira Nla, Ajah, Lagos, which almost claimed the life the Shepherd, Venerable Superior Evangelist [Prophet] James Aso and his assistant, Senior Evangelist Ayotunde Oladipupo.

 

 

 

 

 

The parish was burned down by an angry mob that also broke in and stole church equipment and valuables, while the New Moon Service of Thursday, 1st June, 2023. The arson was triggered by the death of a Hausa man named Dogo who was contracted to evacuate the overflowing soak-away in the church premises. The deceased Hausa man also doubles as an Okada rider in the neighbourhood.

 

 

 

 

However, contrary to the false narrative making the rounds that the Parish was burnt because the deceased’s body was mutilated and human parts removed for rituals. Below are authenticated truths as confirmed by the police, parishioners, non-Hausa neighbours and the official media spokesman of the Celestial Church of Christ, Superior Evangelist Kayode Ajala.

 

 

 

The Facts:

– The deceased Hausa man known as Dogo was quite popular in the neighbourhood and was known for the job of evacuating overflowing soakaways. He also doubled as an Okada rider and it wasn’t the first time he’d been paid by the parish for such jobs. This time, he was actually paid for the job three days before the unfortunate incident.

 

 

 

– Dogo himself chose to do the job on the night of Thursday, 1st June, 2023. This was while the New Moon Service was in progress and the Parish Shepherd in Charge of the Parish, VSE Aso James, was busy in the inner altar as he was the Service Conductor.

 

 

 

– While carrying out the job he was paid for, Dogo slipped and fell into the soak-away.

Celestial Church Debunks False Reports

 

 

– The Assistant Shepherd of the Parish, Senior Evangelist Ayotunde Oladipupo, who was supervising Dogo’s work immediately tried to rescue Dogo and in the process, he also fell into the soak-away.

– Church members alerted by the shouts for help abandoned the Service and began a rescue operation for the two people that had fallen into the soak-away. The lifeless body of Dogo was eventually brought out, while the unconscious body of Oladipupo was also brought out of the soak-away. Both of them were rushed to the hospital where the lifeless body of Dogo was pronounced dead.

– The family of the deceased Hausa man, Dogo, took custody of his remains with all parts of the body intact.

– The Police also attest to the fact that no part of Dogo’s body was tampered with.

– The arson at the Overcomers Parish was carried out by an angry mob largely made up of ‘area boys’ and Okada riders who also attacked the Shepherd of the Parish, VSE Aso James, and inflicted grievous bodily harm on him.

– The Hausas in the neighbourhood are doing a house-to-house search, on a reprisal attack, looking for Celestial Church members with the intention to harm them. Many C.C.C. members in the neighbourhood have since abandoned their homes and gone into hiding.

– VSE James Aso (Shepherd) and Senior Evangelist Ayotunde Oladipupo (Assistant Shepherd) are presently hospitalised and in critical condition.

Members of the public should disregard any other narrative meant to tarnish the name and image of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide.

The Celestial Church of Christ is a Bible believing church focussed on evangelizing the world through the proclamation of the word – the good news of the Messiah Jesus Christ and of the Kingdom of God; in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, proclaiming deliverance to those bound by the shackles of Satan, healing the broken-hearted, the sick, the deformed, restoring hope to the hopeless and those who are bound, while reinforcing the faith of all – both feeble and strong in the unfailing righteousness and faithfulness of God Almighty and Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour.

 

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Politics

BREAKING! Gunmen Attack Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, Several Injured

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BREAKING! Gunmen Attack Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, Several Injured

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sahara Weekly Reports That Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State escaped death by whiskers when his convoy was blocked and attacked by people believed to be supporters of Alh. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka at about 12.30 hours on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BREAKING! Gunmen Attack Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, Several Injured

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The attack took place near the Naval Base, a few kilometres from Lokoja town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was reported that the convoy of Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, having sighted that of the Governor, reportedly blocked the road while some of his armed thugs started shooting sporadically at the Governor’s convoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Tundra branded with the logo of the SDP and with SDP flags also blocked the Governor’s vehicle and occupants of the SDP-branded Tundra were armed with rifles and short guns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, said there is no cause for panic as the Governor is in high spirits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Some security aides and other aides attached to the Governor sustained some degrees of injuries and have been rushed to medical facilities for medical attention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We urge the people of Kogi State to remain calm as security agents are in full control to ensure the arrest of the hoodlums behind the attack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The State Government will ensure that law and order are maintained as the attackers will be brought to justice,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Governor Bello warned that no APC member should involve in any reprisal attack as insecurity from any quarter will be met with stiff penalties

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How Pro Kingsley Accurately warmed About India’s Train Crash 

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Ozekhome Confirms Prophet Kingsley’s Prophetic Warning On Kanu

How Pro Kingsley Accurately warmed About India’s Train Crash 

Sadly, June 2023 started on a scary note as over 260 people died and over 1000 injured as three trains crashed in India’s eaten Odisha state.
However, while the world expressed shocked over the unfortunate incident, One man who was not surprised was Prophet Kingsley Aitafo. The amible clergy during his monthly prophetic warnings said God told him June will start with scary incidents.
How Pro Kingsley Accurately warmed About India's Train Crash 
And to confirm this Sadly, at least 261 people have been killed and 1,000 are injured in a crash involving three trains in India’s eastern Odisha state.
One passenger train derailed on to the adjacent track and was struck by an incoming train on Friday, also hitting a nearby stationary freight train.
A massive recovery operation is under way, after hundreds of emergency workers searched the wreckage.
The cause of India’s worst train crash in over 20 years is not yet clear.
Officials say several carriages from the Coromandel Express, travelling between Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and Chennai (formerly Madras), derailed at about 19:00 (13:30 GMT) in Balasore district after hitting a stationary goods train. Several of its coaches ended up on the opposite track.
Another train travelling in the opposite direction – the Howrah Superfast Express travelling from Yesvantpur to Howrah – then hit the overturned carriages.
“The force with which the trains collided has resulted in several coaches being crushed and mangled,” Atul Karwal, chief of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) told ANI news agency.
More than 200 ambulances and hundreds of doctors, nurses and rescue personnel were sent to the scene, the state’s chief secretary Pradeep Jena said.
Sudhanshu Sarangi, director general of Odisha Fire Services, had earlier said 288 had died.
All trapped and injured passengers have been rescued. It is not clear how serious the injuries of those taken to hospitals were.
Work to restore the site of the crash begun, India’s South Eastern Railway company said on Saturday.

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