With effect from September 1st, 2021, The Governing Council and Board of Directors of the Pan Africa Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (PALEDEC) excitedly appointed Focal Point International CEO, Mr. Mehmet Mesut YILDIRIM as the Host Country Director for the 6th Pan African Humanitarian Summit and Awards scheduled to hold in Istanbul, Turkey from November 25th to 28th, 2021.

In a statement released to the press, Dr. Babalola Omoniyi, Project Manager, and Executive Director of PALEDEC said that “Mehmet’s appointment is based on recommendation of his outstanding leadership qualities, persistent influence and commitment to facilitating international commerce which we find crucial to the success of this year’s edition that aims to discuss sustainable business opportunities to promote and facilitate international trade and Foreign direct investment in Africa.”

Prior to his appointment, Mehmet Mesut YILDIRIM is a legal consultant, a certified Entrepreneur Trainer, and the Founder of Focal Point International, a consultancy firm servicing more than 22 top Turkish companies doing businesses in China, Germany, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Libya, Uzbekistan and Senegal.

He is also responsible for leading several negotiations with many local companies and high-level ministries to improve trade relations and develop businesses in several African countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, Senegal. One of such developments was solving energy and water issues in some African countries by constructing wells with solar energy thereby solving the water problem in the regions without electricity.

Also, between 2019-2021, he undertook the organization of the SOLAREX fair, the first fair organization of Turkey in the Solar Energy sector, and continues to serve as the Dubai President of UTESKON Confederation and the Middle East/Africa officer of the SİİRTLER Federation.

Today, Mehmet's company, Focal Point International continues its services with its international partners in Kuwait, Dubai and Uzbekistan with more than 8 lawyers who are well-versed in international law, 35 translators working as sworn translators in many languages, and 21 professional consultants from whom it has outsourced joint projects as a senior manager. He also serves as the CEO of EKMEKSEPETI ltd.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its operatives in Akwukwu-Igbo in Delta State, led by Kelvin Onuwa Anyakwu and Victor Nzediegwu have been doing everything possible to harm me, my family and political associates.

There have been series of attacks on my properties and plots to eliminate me, leading to some unfortunate attacks on my supporters.

The reason for the acrimony is due to the fact that I chose to identify with a progressive party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) which has brought and still bringing development to my community.

As a traditional title holder whose allegiance is to my people, I thought it wise to join the APC having spent years in the PDP without any noticeable benefit to my people, but my former party chieftains won't recognize my fundamental human rights of freedom to association guaranteed in our constitution and the African charter.

Consequently, they have resorted to attacks and threats to my life, destruction of my properties using thugs and local vigilantes to hound me and my associates.

I have already petitioned the Inspector General of Police on this matter, having lodged formal complaints at the state level with no visible action taken.

As if that was not enough, they also resorted to political intolerance against myself and members of the All Progressives Congress.

This was brought to bare on Saturday when the PDP unleashed an unprecedented level of violence against APC faithfuls during the Local Government elections that our party was clearly winning.

After noticing that APC had won most of the units in the election, thugs led by Ikechukwu Joseph Iwegbu, known as Presidential General, invaded the units fully armed at the point of counting to disrupt the exercise. They carted away all the ballot boxes and shot at us recklessly, many of our people sustained various degree of injuries.

The Police in our community witnessed the incidents, they can attest to the brazen attacks.
No result was announced anywhere in Akwukwu-Igbo ward. Of course APC clearly won five out of the seven polling units in the ward. If they are in doubt, let us repeat the election, APC will still win.

After the violent attack on Saturday, they used the instruments of the state to move against us, arresting our people who are APC members. This is one oppression taken too far. They kept saying they don't want APC, that Delta state is a PDP state yet all the development we have today in Akwukwu Igbo were brought by the APC government.

New transformers came about 6 months ago, Rural electrification is near completion, soon to be commissioned. Renovation of our primary schools with perimeter fencing. We have the Agbogidi primary school, Atuma Primary school etc. Road projects are equally ongoing. Akwukwu-Illa road project alone is about 4km, you also have Engr. Sunday Gbamdi road and others. Why are we not going to join a party that has brought development to our communities?

Since we joined APC, they have been Using hoodlums and local vigilantes to unleash terror on us. We have reported to different authorities, yet the thugs are becoming more brazen. They boast openly that no one can arrest them because they are backed by powers from above.
Since they have openly sworn to use everything to fight APC out of the state and we, on our part, are equally resolute in our journey to bring development to our people through the APC led Federal Government, I use this medium to call on all security agencies and well meaning Nigerians to take urgent steps with a view to safeguarding my life and properties in Akwukwu-Igbo and the state in general, as well as calling all the aforementioned individuals and their enablers to order.


Chief Nelson AgbamucheOdoziani of Akwukwu-IgboDelta State.

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Egypt-born Investor, global business growth strategist and founder of Multi-million dollar EISA SMART Group, Dr. Michael Eisa has revealed the basic skill EVERY rich person seeks in young people especially African Youths.

Having worked in senior managerial positions at Microsoft, leading Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa in managing key financial institutions like Union Bank of Swithzerland, Credit Swiss etc, Dr. Michael also gave a top secret that will help every job seeker in his/her quest to getting her dream-job.
Watch the 5 minutes video here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtaNEyH06sc

Dr. Michael who has just been listed as one of the 100 PAN AFRICAN CHANGE-MAKERS OF 2020 Shared this on the FBI Africa show.

The Governing Council of the Pan African Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (PALEDEC) has welcome Zimbabwean Disability activist and Confidence Coach - Sinikiwe Kademaunga into the high level profile list of the Pan African Change-Makers of 2020.

The Pan African Change-Makers is an initiative of PALEDEC designed to celebrate and showcase Africans and Friends of Africa for their Outstanding contributions to building a prosperous, sustainable and globally competitive Africa.

In an Interview on FBI Africa Show, Sinikiwe Kademaunga shared her stories of hope and resilience which has indeed made her formidable contributor to the socio-economic development in Africa. Watch her interview here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyLWcTPfBMs


WHO IS SINIKIWE KADEMAUNGA?
Award winning Life Coach, Sinikiwe Kademaunga is an experienced Blogger with a demonstrated history of working in the oil & energy industry who has been featured on many global media platforms such as BBC, Barcroft TV, People's magazine and many more for her advocacy work.

Skilled in Leadership Management, and Project Management, Sinikiwe is a formidable social worker, disability right activist, a confidence coach and founder of Sinikiwe Kademaunga Foundation that focuses on young people's personal development and confidence building.

Sinikiwe is a transformational speaker who empower, motivate and equip people using her own personal life story of being born a rejection because of her disability. She was awarded a courage award in 2016 from Zimbabwe international Women's Awards for her tremendous advocacy accomplishments and impacts in schools, religious institutions and organizations in Zimbabwe.


Sinikiwe holds a bachelors degree in social work from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

For more information visit our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Paledec.official/ or website on www.paledec.org

Alhaji (Dr) Ahmed Vanderpuije , the Baba Balogun and Baba Adini of Yorubas in Ghana speaks on the 'Nelson Mandela's International Day' hosted by IAYSP-Ghana.

Recently in January this year, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II was accompanied by dignitaries from Nigeria to Ghana to honor Alhaji ( Dr ) Ahmed Vanderpuije with the prestigious Balogun and Baba Adini of the Yorubas in Ghana while his wife, Alhaja Risikat received 'Iyalode' Chieftancy which signifies the "Queens of ladies.

The International Day of Nelson Mandela 18th July 2020, was hosted by International Association of Student for Youth and Peace (IAYSP) Ghana. The IAYSP is a youth affiliate of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) which was established as a youth focused NGO with the objective of empowering Youths and students to become global citizens of peace through character education and Peace Projects through sustainable development goals.

The Balogun and Baba Adini of Yorubas in Ghana who is based in Nigeria was amongst the speakers in attendance alongside Hon Samia Yaba Nkrumah the daughter of the First Prime Minister and President of Ghana ( Kwame Nkrumah). The Balogun of Yorubas in Ghana gave his speech on the Theme "Peace Legacy with universally shared values : The model for the African Youths . He titled it : Our hope for Resetting our continent and Peace building for a Better World. He emphasized on the theme of the day and how it poised a tremendous resonance, adding that to be focus on the Youths is to genuinely focus on the truth. Below are some notable quotes from his speech

* Peace is about the absence of all forms of discrimination from gender, race, ethnicity and religious persuasion.
*Peace is about good and relevant education for our children and access to proper medical attention and health facilities.
*Peace is about just and economic democracy, prosperity and a pursuit for happiness.

He ends his quote with reference to Africa's greatest stateman and freedom fighter, the Nobel Prize winning Madiba Nelson Mandela on blessed memory who stood for Peace in no uncertain terms after having spent twenty seven (27) years in prison and God forsaken Robben Island, Nelson Mandela came out yet preaching peace and reconciliation with his human oppressors in the form of Apartheid South African state. He understood the immense value of peace and advocated for the type of peace that will create a requisite enabling environment for his People.

Alhaji (Dr) Ahmed Vanderpuije ,the Balogun and Baba Adini of Yorubas in Ghana submitted his speech by advising the Global Youths and Students to embrace and aspire the kind of peace legacy left behind by Nelson Mandela.

On the list of notable speakers at the event was Jare Ijalana from Nigeria , winner of the 'Most Beautiful Girl in the world 2018' who also attended the just concluded London Fashion Week Feb 2020 . She was alongside with Nakeeyat Dramani Ghanians, who also won the Most Talented kids on the 'Tv3's Talented kids reality show' . The two talents presented a poem about the Man of the day Madiba Nelson Mandela.

One of the Awardee at the webinar is a Nigerian Humanitarian Consultant and International Business connector , Adebayo Ezekiel Ogunjobi who was awarded as the "Youth Ambassador for Peace" for exemplifying the ideals of intercultural harmony, moral integrity, altruism, and furthering the work of the United Nations thereby contributing to a unified world of Peace which is the hope of all ages where a culture of peace is established. The award was issued under the umbrella of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in conjunction with the International Association of Youths and Students for Peace ( IAYSP) Ghana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIfkL_GVkhQ

Gentlemen of the Press.

Let me attempt to paraphrase a salient quote from Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th POTUS.

Patriotism means to stand by your country, not to stand with any public official, save to the degree in which the official stands by the country.
For us as civil society organizations, it is unpatriotic not to oppose public officials when they fail in their duties to the country. It is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, especially as it touches corruption, mis-governance and open rape of people’s trust.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been in focus since April, obviously for the wrong reasons. The audacity for looting and dark tendencies has surged uncontrollably in recent days. This worrisome development calls for serious interrogation, investigation and immediate action.
The late Executive Director of Finance & Administration died in the early hours of Thursday, May 28th, 2020. Very early in the day, our organization, Act for Positive Transformation Initiative, had intercepted a sinister ploy to weave the unfortunate death around COVID-19. Some newspapers subtly reported this online. By 1pm, we were on a national television where we further warned actors to desist from such satanic plot. We also revealed, that the plan involved shutting down NDDC offices, forcing staff to go on isolation and eventually returned with COVID-19 positive status claims in the public. Gentlemen, all these have played out. We must act to prevent life as the end of the ploy may lead to more casualties.

To this end, we are calling for immediate investigations of the COVID-19 claims of NDDC officials. We call on National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the Ministry of Health, the Presidential task Force on COVID-19 and all relevant agencies to immediately investigate NDDC claims and NCDC officials in Rivers State. We also appeal to, Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who doubles as the head of PTF on COVID-19 to compel NDDC to make available, names of officials they claim are positive. We kept tabs on the movement of some officials, we can indeed provide information on where some of them visited to help in contact tracing, besides their immediate communities and families will certainly be of help during investigation.

We submit that this whole ploy is meant to jeopardize the ongoing probe of the commission. Our curiosity is further heightened by the slow pace of work by the National Assembly. There must not be any political settlement on the wicked rape of the people’s resources. Till date, we are yet to receive any invite from the National Assembly despite our extensive work in exposing the ongoing corruption in the commission.
We want to duly and responsibly inform the National Assembly and relevant agencies that the amount under probe should be over #75 Billion Naira (SEVENTY FIVE BILLION NAIRA), not the touted 40 Billion Naira as the present Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the NDDC has expended over 80 Billion Naira in just four months. Aside from the wage bill, the rest must be subjected to forensic analysis.
The discoveries will amaze Nigerians. So many abuses of regulations.

How do you explain the payment of 13.6 Million Naira for “consultancy on the construction of infant Jesus”? The said payment went into a zenith bank account number 1014119683.
How do you justify Two Billion Naira ( N 2,000,000,000) on acclaimed media spending in just two months? How much has the Federal Government spent on media? A large part of these payments was meant to block us from the media. This is why we must appreciate the media houses who have refused to be compromised. You have a date with history in the battle against corruption in Nigeria.

From the numerous payments, you can conclude that the present IMC is only there to clear the money. 34 Million naira was paid into Zenith Bank account number 1012613187 for ‘consultancy on reputation management for NDDC’. Same company received into same account a sum of 536 Million Naira in one day for “campaign to save lives” in the Niger Delta. The payment was broken into 16 units to divert attention. We are sure you are aware of the 39 Million Naira paid on May 19th, for “consultancy on rebuttal”. Three days later, precisely, May 22nd, another 641 Million Naira was paid for media support. Towards the end of March, 2020, when businesses and countries were closing their doors, the same company was paid 34 Million Naira for ‘Niger Delta Development Forum in Washington DC, USA’ and another 32.9 Million Naira for ‘Summit on NDDC and Investment Opportunities in Dorchester, London’, same day.

On the 22nd day of April, 2020, Julius Dinga Nig Ltd, a mining company, was paid 98.3 Million Naira for “consultancy on provision of publicity on the effect of corona virus campaign”. The said sum was paid into Zenith account number 1016587299. A forensic analysis of NDDC accounts for 2020 will reveal heart rendering tales of corruption and disregard for financial regulations laws.

We wonder what the security and anti-corruption agencies are doing despite the documents we have released to the public.
It is also patriotic to note that comments from certain quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari appears to be supporting and rewarding corruption in NDDC hence the continuous looting of the people’s resources, deserves some attention by the government.

The 2020 first quarter statistics should start reorganizing our priorities. Our debt to revenue ratio was 99%, meaning 99% of our income went into debt servicing. Forget fund for capital projects in that scary situation, ask where salaries and other overhead cost came from. This is the time to block all loopholes. It is time to truly kill corruption else corruption will kill us. We cannot be borrowing for some people’s pleasure and greed. Nigeria must work. Niger Delta must work. The people must not be left in the present state of neglect. The President must act now.

Kolawole Johnson Mnipr
Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy & Programmes
Act for Positive Transformation Initiative
14/06/2020

Gentlemen of the Press.

Let me attempt to paraphrase a salient quote from Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th POTUS.

Patriotism means to stand by your country, not to stand with any public official, save to the degree in which the official stands by the country.
For us as civil society organizations, it is unpatriotic not to oppose public officials when they fail in their duties to the country. It is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, especially as it touches corruption, mis-governance and open rape of people’s trust.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been in focus since April, obviously for the wrong reasons. The audacity for looting and dark tendencies has surged uncontrollably in recent days. This worrisome development calls for serious interrogation, investigation and immediate action.
The late Executive Director of Finance & Administration died in the early hours of Thursday, May 28th, 2020. Very early in the day, our organization, Act for Positive Transformation Initiative, had intercepted a sinister ploy to weave the unfortunate death around COVID-19. Some newspapers subtly reported this online. By 1pm, we were on a national television where we further warned actors to desist from such satanic plot. We also revealed, that the plan involved shutting down NDDC offices, forcing staff to go on isolation and eventually returned with COVID-19 positive status claims in the public. Gentlemen, all these have played out. We must act to prevent life as the end of the ploy may lead to more casualties.

To this end, we are calling for immediate investigations of the COVID-19 claims of NDDC officials. We call on National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the Ministry of Health, the Presidential task Force on COVID-19 and all relevant agencies to immediately investigate NDDC claims and NCDC officials in Rivers State. We also appeal to, Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who doubles as the head of PTF on COVID-19 to compel NDDC to make available, names of officials they claim are positive. We kept tabs on the movement of some officials, we can indeed provide information on where some of them visited to help in contact tracing, besides their immediate communities and families will certainly be of help during investigation.

We submit that this whole ploy is meant to jeopardize the ongoing probe of the commission. Our curiosity is further heightened by the slow pace of work by the National Assembly. There must not be any political settlement on the wicked rape of the people’s resources. Till date, we are yet to receive any invite from the National Assembly despite our extensive work in exposing the ongoing corruption in the commission.
We want to duly and responsibly inform the National Assembly and relevant agencies that the amount under probe should be over #75 Billion Naira (SEVENTY FIVE BILLION NAIRA), not the touted 40 Billion Naira as the present Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the NDDC has expended over 80 Billion Naira in just four months. Aside from the wage bill, the rest must be subjected to forensic analysis.

The discoveries will amaze Nigerians. So many abuses of regulations.
How do you explain the payment of 13.6 Million Naira for “consultancy on the construction of infant Jesus”? The said payment went into a zenith bank account number 1014119683.

How do you justify Two Billion Naira ( N 2,000,000,000) on acclaimed media spending in just two months? How much has the Federal Government spent on media? A large part of these payments was meant to block us from the media. This is why we must appreciate the media houses who have refused to be compromised. You have a date with history in the battle against corruption in Nigeria.

From the numerous payments, you can conclude that the present IMC is only there to clear the money. 34 Million naira was paid into Zenith Bank account number 1012613187 for ‘consultancy on reputation management for NDDC’. Same company received into same account a sum of 536 Million Naira in one day for “campaign to save lives” in the Niger Delta. The payment was broken into 16 units to divert attention. We are sure you are aware of the 39 Million Naira paid on May 19th, for “consultancy on rebuttal”. Three days later, precisely, May 22nd, another 641 Million Naira was paid for media support. Towards the end of March, 2020, when businesses and countries were closing their doors, the same company was paid 34 Million Naira for ‘Niger Delta Development Forum in Washington DC, USA’ and another 32.9 Million Naira for ‘Summit on NDDC and Investment Opportunities in Dorchester, London’, same day.

On the 22nd day of April, 2020, Julius Dinga Nig Ltd, a mining company, was paid 98.3 Million Naira for “consultancy on provision of publicity on the effect of corona virus campaign”. The said sum was paid into Zenith account number 1016587299. A forensic analysis of NDDC accounts for 2020 will reveal heart rendering tales of corruption and disregard for financial regulations laws.

We wonder what the security and anti-corruption agencies are doing despite the documents we have released to the public.
It is also patriotic to note that comments from certain quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari appears to be supporting and rewarding corruption in NDDC hence the continuous looting of the people’s resources, deserves some attention by the government.
The 2020 first quarter statistics should start reorganizing our priorities. Our debt to revenue ratio was 99%, meaning 99% of our income went into debt servicing. Forget fund for capital projects in that scary situation, ask where salaries and other overhead cost came from. This is the time to block all loopholes. It is time to truly kill corruption else corruption will kill us. We cannot be borrowing for some people’s pleasure and greed. Nigeria must work. Niger Delta must work. The people must not be left in the present state of neglect. The President must act now.

Kolawole Johnson Mnipr
Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy & Programmes
Act for Positive Transformation Initiative
14/06/2020

As the controversy rocking award of contracts by Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), continue unabated, one the contractor accused of signing contract agreements for 11 different companies, High Chief Nelson Agbamuche, has vehemently denied the allegation.

Apparently reacting to a recent statement by the NDDC, which suggested that the chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Perter Nwaoboshi used 11 companies belonging to Agabamuche for the execution shady contracts worth about N3.6 billion, the contractor said such allegation was a baseless fabrication by mischievous officials and management of the Commission.

He further describe the allegation as a calculated deception. “This is another blatant lie. It is bothersome when this kind of barefaced mendacity is supposedly coming from an official quarter. I state unequivocally that this is untrue," he said.

He, however, alleged that the Commission attributed ownership of his companies to unknown persons, noting that the move could be sinister plot to by fraudulent individuals to divert what rightfully belongs to him.

Agbamuche, who is the Odozi - Ani of Akwukwu Igbo Kingdom in Dekta State, had recently cautioned the NDDC, not to drag him into the battle with the National Assembly.

In a statement personally signed by him, expressed apprehension that, “at this point, I am beginning to suspect a deliberate conspiracy to forcefully capture what rightfully and legally belongs to me. My companies have been winning contracts for over 15 years; I am therefore worried that misguided officials are attributing the ownership of these same companies to another person.”

He wondered why unsubstantiated claims against him would be peddled from an official source of the NDDC, an institution that should have records to verify contract related issues.

“My attention has again been drawn to another set of lies and unsubstantiated accusations against my person by officials of the NDDC, on allegations of contract awards that I have earlier denounced and called on security agencies to investigate.

“The latest mention is, sadly, uncharitable and very unbecoming of an institution that should have records in its care to verify contract related issues, devoid of false allegations,” he added.

He further discountenanced narratives that his companies fronted for a serving senator to secure the contracts.

“For emphasis, let me reinstate that I have been bidding for jobs and executing the ones won with all diligence long before the Senator they are struggling so hard to attach me to get to the National Assembly. For the record, I have never been to the National Assembly; the security agencies can please check the CCTV recordings of their premises to confirm this.

“The said contract for the supply of chairs was advertised on national dailies where I came across it. Companies’ managements bided differently as a common practice to improve chances in the highly competitive bid process. Jobs were won and satisfactorily executed. Certificates of job completion were duly issued afterwards and payments were made.

“According to the dictates of the awards, all contractors were meant to lease warehouses for a certain period for the purpose of warehousing the goods with the supervision of NDDC officials because the commission’s Warehouse could not contain the supplies. Mine was not different; we leased a warehouse to store those items under strict supervisions of commission’s officials until they personally distributed goods by themselves. Records are there. The recent baseless allegations that could easily be verified from official files in their possession are therefore appalling. Perhaps the commission’s official who alluded to those lies should have waited to come out of isolation to verify his statement,” Agbamuche added.

He stated further that, “The Delta State angle is another outright lie. The last set of jobs any of my companies executed for Delta State government was around 2006, during the tenure office Chief Ibori. The completion of the magistrate court at Ibusa Road, Asaba should be the last. Such durable delivery attests to our track record. Our glowing records with multinationals and MDGs should therefore not be tainted with unfounded speculations. I did not supply plastic chairs to Delta state nor involved in the sale of any. This can be verified, easily.

“For the umpteenth time, these people should leave me out of their diatribes and cold war. I have responsibilities to my kingdom that demands unassailable public records that I have carefully built. This satanic drag must stop; I may be forced to seek redress against any official if this does not stop.”

One of the contractors handling projects for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), High Chief Nelson Agbamuche, has alleged that the Commission attributed ownership of his companies to unknown persons. This according to him could be a sinister plot by the Commission to divert what rightfully belongs to him. He also described the allegation that he signed contract agreements for 11 companies, as a calculated deception.

"This is another blatant lie. It is bothersome when this kind of barefaced mendacity is supposedly coming from an official quarter. I state unequivocally that this is untrue," he said.

Agbamuche, who is the Odozi - Ani of Akwukwu Igbo Kingdom in Dekta State, had recently cautioned the NDDC, not to drag him into the battle with the National Assembly.
Agbamuche in a statement personally signed by him, expressed apprehension that, “at this point, I am beginning to suspect a deliberate conspiracy to forcefully capture what rightfully and legally belongs to me. My companies have been winning contracts for over 15 years; I am therefore worried that misguided officials are attributing the ownership of these same companies to another person.”

He wondered why unsubstantiated claims against him would be peddled from an official source of the NDDC, an institution that should have records to verify contract related issues.

“My attention has again been drawn to another set of lies and unsubstantiated accusations against my person by officials of the NDDC, on allegations of contract awards that I have earlier denounced and called on security agencies to investigate.

“The latest mention is, sadly, uncharitable and very unbecoming of an institution that should have records in its care to verify contract related issues, devoid of false allegations,” he added.

He further discountenanced narratives that his companies fronted for a serving senator to secure the contracts.

“For emphasis, let me reinstate that I have been bidding for jobs and executing the ones won with all diligence long before the Senator they are struggling so hard to attach me to get to the National Assembly. For the record, I have never been to the National Assembly; the security agencies can please check the CCTV recordings of their premises to confirm this.

“The said contract for the supply of chairs was advertised on national dailies where I came across it. Companies’ managements bided differently as a common practice to improve chances in the highly competitive bid process. Jobs were won and satisfactorily executed. Certificates of job completion were duly issued afterwards and payments were made.

“According to the dictates of the awards, all contractors were meant to lease warehouses for a certain period for the purpose of warehousing the goods with the supervision of NDDC officials because the commission’s Warehouse could not contain the supplies. Mine was not different; we leased a warehouse to store those items under strict supervisions of commission’s officials until they personally distributed goods by themselves. Records are there. The recent baseless allegations that could easily be verified from official files in their possession are therefore appalling. Perhaps the commission’s official who alluded to those lies should have waited to come out of isolation to verify his statement,” Agbamuche added.

He stated further that, “The Delta State angle is another outright lie. The last set of jobs any of my companies executed for Delta State government was around 2006, during the tenure office Chief Ibori. The completion of the magistrate court at Ibusa Road, Asaba should be the last. Such durable delivery attests to our track record. Our glowing records with multinationals and MDGs should therefore not be tainted with unfounded speculations. I did not supply plastic chairs to Delta state nor involved in the sale of any. This can be verified, easily.

“For the umpteenth time, these people should leave me out of their diatribes and cold war. I have responsibilities to my kingdom that demands unassailable public records that I have carefully built. This satanic drag must stop; I may be forced to seek redress against any official if this does not stop.”

In line with adage that says nothing is hidden under the sun, documents showing how the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio secretly pleaded to included five projects worth 500 million naira in the 2017 Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) had been made public.

In a letter dated August 7, 2017, addressed to the Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC, Akpabio requested that five projects worth 500 million naira should be added to the budget.

Akpabio, the then the Minority Leader in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, used his office to included projects not budgeted for in the budget.

The projects include, fencing the Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibom North West Senitorial District at the cost of 200 million naira.

Fencing if Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene (Old site) Akwa North West Senitorial District.

Entrepreneurship training on the use of modern farming implement- Youths in Akwa Ibom North West Senitorial District at the cost of N75 million.

Entrepreneurship training on the use of modern farming implement- Women in Akwa Ibom North West Senitorial District at the cost of N75 million.

Renovation of one hostel facility at University of Nsukka, Nsukka Campus at the cost of N50 million.

According to credible sources in the senate, this is not the first time he is doing it as it did it in 2016 and in 2018 as well.

Findings show that while there was no physical evidence of implentation of these projects, checks show contracts were awarded and fully paid for. Such practices have turned the region to sites of abandoned projects.

The NDDC is currently under probe for an alleged N40 billion irregular expenditure by the Interim Management Committee (IMC).

We call the attention of the general public, the security agencies and President Mohammadu Buhari to the unfolding drama at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
We had earlier raised an alarm in the early hours of the day on a rumored satanic scheme to weave the death of the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the commission around COVID-19 in order for members of the commission to proceed on self- isolation, shut the office and frustrate the ongoing probe. We alerted some journalists as early as 7:30am on this dubious plan and later appeared on a National Television to warn all involved to respect the dead and halt such inhuman plot.
Event this afternoon has finally confirmed this plan that was leaked to the public several hours before it was officially hatched.
The commission has released a memo to begin the series of drama planned; from isolation to fake test and eventual fake confirmation. We call on the President to direct security agencies to investigate and frustrate every ploy in this regard.
The late EDFA was no doubt an accounting officer, but not the chief accounting officer. The Managing Director/CEO is the chief accounting officer. All payments are authorized by the Executive Director, Finance & Administration while the final approval lies with the Managing Director. Most of the documents in our possession have both names, there is no way the other party can feign ignorance.
We also make a special appeal to the security agencies to protect the Managing Director/CEO of the commission.
We pray God comfort the families of the dead.

Signed:
Kolawole Johnson
Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy & Programmes (ACT)
28/05/2020

PRESS RELEASE

NDDC PROBE: PLEASE DO NOT BRING ME INTO YOUR BATTLE

My attention was drawn to some mindless fabrications and falsehood against my person on a television program by Cairo Ojugboh, Ag Director of Project, in Niger Delta Development Commission.

I will expose his lies as I call on security agencies to please bring him to book for such shameless attempts to malign my person. I am glad people know him for his character, no serious minded Nigerian will take Cairo seriously, and his atrocious antecedent speaks wherever he goes.

He mentioned my name as a contractor for one Senator or fronting for the Senate. How can someone make such a hideous accusation without any iota of truth? I do not have any business relationship with anybody in the Senate and the whole National Assembly. How can I start fronting for anybody at my age and level? Is that not an insult? I am a High Chief in my Kingdom. I have been executing contracts in NDDC since 2012 and I have never been found wanting. I execute any contract I win diligently because it is for the benefit of our people who are daily deprived by these oppotunists who find themselves in positions of authority. I am a Nigerian and ably qualified to bid for contracts anywhere, including NDDC.

Cairo also mentioned a particular contract for the supply of plastic chairs. Let me put it on record that over 15 contractors were engaged for that supply. Just like other contractors, I delivered satisfactorily. All contractors were meant to lease warehouses for a certain period for the purpose of warehousing the goods with the supervision of NDDC because the commission’s Warehouse could not contain the supplies. Mine was not different, my company leased a warehouse to store those items under the supervision of NDDC officials until they were distributed by same officials. Records are there. I do not understand why he would barefacedly make these baseless allegations without studying his files to know the facts. Perhaps that is what happens when you are on a blind mission.

In the said interview, he alleged I was given 1,000 projects on behalf of some people. This is ridiculous! Since 2012 that I started bidding for jobs in NDDC, we have NOT even won up to 50 or 100 jobs. Is he not having access to files in the office? Can Nigerians please help me announce to all of them to leave me out of their battle. I do not have anything to do with any of those allegations; they are baseless and very fallacious.

I and Cairo Ojugboh met at Golden Tulips Hotel in PortHarcourt about a month ago, we laughed and parted peacefully, he did not mention any of these dubious claims because none exist in the books of NDDC.

I am particularly calling on security and anti corruption agencies to look into those false claims with the aim of bringing the purveyor of lies to book.

I repeat, I am a High Chief in my kingdom, I do not engage in any of those things he mentioned in the falsehood.

Signed

High Chief Nelson Agbamuche
ODOZI - ANI Of AKWUKWU Igbo KINGDOM

A group of Ex-militants has called on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to desist from threatening the country over the National Assembly's attempt to probe the N40b alleged fraud in the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The group in a statement signed and released to the media on Sunday by its Coordinator, Odudoh Okpokiri, called on Akpabio to stop sponsoring shadowy groups of fake militants and personal associates to gag the National Assembly from carrying out the probe through threats and mindless blackmail.

The group noted in the statement that the threat attributed to ex-militants calling for the stoppage of NDDC probe was fake as none of its members would stand against the government in cleaning the place since everybody is affected with the ongoing corruption in the country.

“We know ourselves; the statement of threat against those who want to probe is not from any of our member. Is it the members that are being owed by the commission for many years that will threaten anybody? That statement is not from us. Nigerians should ignore it. Our members want the NDDC to be repositioned to work for Niger Deltans. We will not stand against anything that will make the place better. Everybody is tired of the corruption going on in the country”

“While we want the federal government to pay more attention to the plights of our people in this region, we support everything that will change the commission to make it serve our people better. The politician cannot use us to settle their own troubles when the people are being shortchanged”

“When Akpabio was sworn in as a minister, the first group from the region invited to his office is the same Oby Ndukwe’s so called Citizen’s Quest for Truth Initiative. Did he invite the ex-militants on how to solve our problems? Politician should not always use us as errand boys. We have a group picture of Akpabio and Ndukwe’s group", a part of the statement noted.

The statement further called on the National Assembly and all anti corruption agencies to ‘ignore the rants of the fake militants’’ as their rants are empty threats and hot airs that cannot hold waters’ and therefore should proceed with any ‘lawfully assigned responsibilities regarding investigating corruption in the NDDC’ to make it function better as they call on the President to ensure a thourough forensic audit of the commission’s account.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to personally appoint a neutral Forensic Auditor to audit the account of NDDC since the politicians involved now are accusing themselves of corruption”.

"We call on Akpabio and his proxy group to allow the anti corruption agencies and the National Assembly carry out investigations to a logical conclusion. By the way, why should the IMC of the commission and by extension, Akpabio, be scared if they know that their books are clean? A clean mind fears no accusation," a part of the statement read”.

“Oby Ndukwe, the president and founder of Citizen’s Quest Initiative, who is also known to be one of Akpabio’s mistresses, in one breath, said there is no fraud committed by the present Interim Management Committee, IMC, yet turned around to call for the stoppage of probe. If she has seen the books of the NDDC to approve of the IMC, she should simply encourage others to confirm her claims by welcoming investigations by any agency of government. Every stakeholder from the region, except those profiting from the sleaze, support the government’s move to clean NDDC”.

“We call on the leadership and members of the National Assembly to ensure the probe is carried through and findings made public else, members from the region should consider themselves personal non granta in the region. Other anti-coruption agencies should also investigate the commission to compare notes with the outcome of NASS probe”.

The group also reiterated its support for President Muhammadu Buhari in his determined efforts to rid the commission of monumental corruption which has been ravaging the agency since its creation over 19 years ago.

END OF THE ROAD: AKPABIO BURIES NDDC IN FRAUD, CAIRO LIED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION (Find Picture Proof Below the story)

President Muhammadu Buhari, out of concern for the people of the Niger Delta region, appointed an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to clean The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), conduct forensic audit and make it more responsive to the people.
Sunday, 26th of April, 2020, Nigerians watched a member of the Interim Management Committee, The Director of Project, Dr Cairo Ojugboh, on Channels Television struggling hard to defend grisly allegations of corruption steamrolled on the Commission. Our organization, ACT FOR POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE, has fact checked many of his claims and found them to be, at best, dishonorable mendacities and unconcealed lies.
First, Dr Cairo claimed contract has not been awarded for any intervention on COVID-19. This is falsehood. Contracts were indeed awarded on the 6th of April, 2020.
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Also, Cairo claimed he was not familiar with a company called OSMOSERVE. He lied.
Osmoserve got the largest share of the self-serving COVID-19 intervention contract amounting to N4,861,354,250.00 and received mobilization more than one week prior to the TV program. Sadly, OSMOSERVE Global Ltd should be under a stern flashlight of the forensic probe, having benefitted more than any other company in recent years in numerous emergency projects that brought the commission to its knees, yet the Interim Management made same company its looting agent.
After Osmoserve’s fraudulent contract award, Official documents show that about four other companies were awarded COVID-19 related contracts and payments approved same date except for a company that objected to unofficially terms advanced by the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. The companies are: AHR GLOBAL STANDARD SERVICES LTD (Batch no: 13662 & Vat no: 13664), awarded emergency procurement of social relief packs. JULIUS DINGA NIG LTD (Batch no: 13656 & Vat no: 13658), award for emergency consultancy for the provision of publicity on the prevention of spread of corona virus across the Nine Niger Delta states. TABLES AND BUILDINGS NIG LTD (Batch no: 13659 & Vat no: 13660).
Like many other contracts, these ones were not meant to be executed. Once payments are made, it is alleged that contractors change money to dollar and share accordingly. Perhaps this is the underlying reason the Executive Director, Project, denied the existence of these awards on National [b][/b]Television.
For OSMOSERVE GLOBAL LTD, award was given for emergency supply and delivery of medical equipment and consumables to the NDDC warehouse. In characteristic style of the present IMC, supply details and specifications are always not indicated in the award letter in order to frustrate audit process. The letter of award claimed the medical equipment was meant for testing, treatment and care of COVID-19 cases. Transaction was initiated by Mr Effiong Henry, approved same date by the Executive Director, Finance & Administration, Ibanga Basset Etang and got the final payment approval of the Acting MD, Prof Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, within half an hour, precisely on the 15th of April, 2020. The sum of Seven Hundred and Twenty-Nine Million, Two Hundred and Three Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty-Seven Naira, Fifty Kobo (729,203,137.50) was treated for payment. For verification, the details of transaction from the TSA account are as follow: Batch no: 13593, Vat no: 13595 and Withholding Tax no: 13594. This can be verified by anyone.
We hope the anti-corruption agencies will commence action immediately; we have made the job much easier by providing far reaching details.
Of note is the open confession of Dr Cairo that Presidential approval for the COVID-19 intervention projects would be communicated officially to the commission on Monday, 27th, April, 2020. The implication is simple: the fraudulently management acted illegally in flagrant defiance to Fiscal Responsibility Act, since contracts were awarded and money paid without lawful approval. This further exposes the level of desperation to loot as the purported request for approval was sent to the President in retrospect.
For every payment made, we have it on good authority that a topmost kingpin collects kickbacks ranging from 30 to 45 percent, depending on the status of contract. For the past six months, it has been widely alleged that the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godwill Akpabio, has been using the forensic audit as smokescreen to mop up the account of the agency.
Nigerians should also note, the commission has squandered over Fourty Nine Billion naira ( N49B) in illegal payments in the last two months, most of which are in defiance to Public Procurement Act yet Dr Cairo claimed the present Interim Management Committee is yet to award any contract.
Today, dead fishes litter the Niger Delta coastline due to toxic releases of oil processing companies. The avenue for subsisting income for indigents has been wiped off which may lead to widespread hunger in the land. Shall we close our eyes to this mad fleece while people die in suffering?
While the public space is swashed with several allegations of corruption against the management, the All Progressive Congress, through its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, rose in cover for the Commission. Whereas it irresponsibly shows the Party is not on the same page with Mr President on his anti-corruption war, it will, nonetheless, be criminal to find it as an active group player in the ongoing looting of the NDDC.
We call on the anti-corruption agencies to rise to the occasion to save whatever is left in the account of the commission.
This serves as a SOS call to the National Assembly to act in the interest of the people. The time is now. The commission, as presently constituted, is like a rotten mackerel by moonlight, it shines and stinks.
We call on The Ministry of Finance, CBN and the Accountant General Office to make public all NDDC transactions from the TSA account in the last two months.

Signed:
Kolawole Johnson
Head, Directorate of Research & Programs, ACT.
Strategypower.com@gmail.com.
29/04/2020

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