A couple of weeks ago, Dino Melaye, former member of the House of Representatives and his so-called Anti-Corruption Network raised some dust over projects being executed by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. He had sought very relentlessly to persuade his audience to believe that the projects did not exist, thus suggesting that the Ministry’s claim to have awarded those contracts was false. The projects in question are canalisation/river training of Foupolo-Bulou Ndoro Creek in Burutu local government area, canalisation of Odoubou Ogbobagbene Burutu and land reclamation/shoreline protection at Ogbobagbene.

The dust generated by the alarm he raised has since settled, and in favour of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe and the management of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs who were clearly the target of Melaye’s fabrications.

Facts and figures on the transactions concerning the projects were laid on the table for the public to see. Orubebe personally addressed a press conference in Abuja and thereafter a team of journalists and members of civil society groups led by Professor Sylvester Monye, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Projects Monitoring and Evaluation visited the sites of the projects in question. The tour produced still and video photographs of the projects showing workers and equipment on the sites in addition to written reports published in some of the nation’s reputable newspapers, all pointing in one direction: that the projects do actually exist and are on-going.

That verdict was generously published in the media, both print and electronic, and Melaye has ended up becoming the villain rather than the hero of that campaign. It has put a big question mark on his self-imposed anti-corruption crusade. But let that aspect of the discussion wait while we consider the facts of the projects which Melaye sought very vigorously, albeit unsuccessfully, to destroy.

The projects are part of the efforts to open the Niger Delta, the long neglected headspring of our nation’s economic prosperity, for development. The canalization/river training of Foupolo-Bolou Ndoro Creek in Burutu, Delta State was awarded on February 2, 2011 to First Marine & Engineering Services Limited for N2.3 billion. Out of that amount, N355 million, that is about 15 percent, was paid as mobilization to the company. Despite the slow rate of payment, the project has already attained 40 percent completion. By whatever standards, this is one of the best managed projects. The contractors could have done better but for budgetary constraints. In the 2012 budget, only N10 million was provided for the project. This was a far cry from what the contractors required to move fast and deliver the project on schedule. The slow pace of funding was even recently the subject of a meeting between the Ministry, the contractors and their bankers. The Ministry had to assure the contractors and their bankers that adequate provision had been made in the 2013 budget for a smoother funding of the project.

The situation in the two other project sites is no less different. A lot of progress has been made despite the funding constraints. Only mobilization fees have been paid to the construction companies so far, yet they are on site and working very assiduously. During the visit of the journalists, members of the communities hosting these projects met with their visitors and spoke glowingly to them about these projects and expressed gratitude to the federal government for bringing development to their doorsteps.

Why Melaye would sit back in the comfort of his bedroom and conclude that these projects do not exist is not only bizarre but cruel. But even the aspect that is more outlandish, reckless and wicked of the Maleye saga is the attempt to link Orubebe with a non-exising fraud of N29 billion. How do the total contract sums of the three projects add up to N29 billion. What sort of arithmetic is this one? This mathematical “abracadabra” is proof that Melaye’s mission is fuelled only by a cruel desire to cause mischief and tarnish the image of Orubebe and the management of the new Ministry. And that is very unfortunate.

[b]That brings me back to the façade of the anti-corruption toga in which Melaye is dancing before the public. Melaye needs to work a lot harder to convince the Nigerian public that he is, indeed, a genuine anti-corruption crusader. On a number of occasions, he goofed. He has never actually succeeded in proving any of his cases. The issues he raised against the principal officers of the House of Representatives and against the former Governor of Kogi State Idris Ibrahim are the outstanding two examples of a failed mission. The present one concerning the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is yet another. The projects he said never existed actually exist and the entire public has seen and accepted that they exist. Journalists, members of civil society groups and the host communities were unanimous in their verdict that Melaye was wrong. So how can anyone trust and support the dubious mission of his so-called anti-corruption disciple?

There is a big lesson behind all of these. Our anti-corruption agencies should be careful not to confuse those who truly want to help them fight corruption with those whose desire is to make money by dragging innocent public officials into unnecessary controversies through false allegations of corruption. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and its twin sister, the Independent Corrupt Practices (and other related Offences) Commission, ICPC, should not do business with such alarmists like Melaye if they must enjoy public respect, support and confidence. Melaye should rather be closely watched as a dangerous false alarmist than trusted as an anti-corruption crusader.
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http://www.leadership.ng/nga/columns/42243/2012/12/11/making_false_alarmist.html

We don't need a prophet or soothsayer to tell us that the likes of Dino Melaye are using anti corruption as a mechadise to enrich themselves and gain cheap popularity,only those who are vulnerable will believe their tales of lies and ficticious stories,my problem is that they disturbing and making feel as we don't have the mind of our own,but Nigerians are wiser now they know the gimmicks of these people shame and disgrace will be their end...

2nd to comment!

The idea of hiding under the mask of social crusade or civil liberty organisatons to settle scores or for self aggrandizement defeats the original purpose and goals of such missions and perhaps become an aberration when the approach is self seeking and selective, that is targeted at certain characters or personalities in the society. Though it patriotic and fair to give room for checks and balances between the led and their leaders for proper accountability and efficiency within the system. The kangaroo approach of Dino Melaye overtime underscores ulterior motives in the ways he goes about carrying out his purported anti corruption network...one who comes into equity must come with clean hands.

Hate or like him, he still remain one of the best anti-curruption crusader we have 4now

Dino Melaye is only an anti corruption activist when he's not part of the 'chopping' party. His records in the house of reps speak for themselves!

fkaz: Hate or like him, he still remain one of the best anti-curruption crusader we have 4now

because he gives u part of the dividends...rubbish...going to equity with dirty hands...u guys shud kip deceivin urselves...to fight corruption, we need to start frm ourselves, so dat when we hav opportunity to serve in public offices, we dnt get tempted to loot or divert funds...Not to listen to a frustrated politician who finished looting and looks for avenue to channel his misgivings...abeggggggiiii..nxt story

Abujafood: Dino Melaye is only an anti corruption activist when he's not part of the 'chopping' party. His records in the house of reps speak for themselves!

Continue leaving in illusion...Dino ke

I am not holding brief for the Niger delta minister neither am I a Melaye apologist but these are my thoughts:

When did Melaye suddenly become an anti-corruption cruder?
We still recall the role he played in the Patricia Etteh impeachment saga (He was her man friday and stood by her till the last minute of her impeachment)

His antagonism of Dimeji Bankole which led to his expulsion from the house was as a result of the speaker leaving him out in the allotment of principal officers of the house.

Despite all these, a partial ill-motivated fight against cooruption is better than no fight at all. On this note, I encourage him to go 0on, but should always surround himself with facts before rushing to press lest he looses what is left of what we call credibility!