A bout 80 participants in the foreign training component of
the Delta State Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) are
now living under constant threats of deportation from their
current base in Barbados for disclosing their poor living
conditions and other details to SaharaReporters.
Professor Prof. Hope Eghagha
Photo Credit:
Naija Advocate
The trainees were airlifted from Nigeria in December 2014
by the Delta State Government with the promise that they
would attend various trainings in Agriculture, Tourism,
Hospitality and Culinary Arts at different location in Trinidad
and Tobago, and Barbados, both in the West Indies. But
following rife allegations of poor treatment and neglect the
trainees had spoken to SaharaReporters in the hope that
their government would act in their favour.
They had described the programme as the “highest scam so
far in Delta State” and also pointed accusing fingers at the
Governor, his Deputy Prof. Amos Utuama, Commissioner
for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha and one Ms.
Donna St. Hill, a Barbadian, for conniving to syphon State
resources under the guise of training and empowering the
youths of Delta State.
The action of the trainees and the weighty disclosures
reportedly angered the Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel
Uduaghan who was said to have ordered the immediate
commencement of deportation processes and termination of
the programme. The Governor’s order was personally
served on the trainees by the Deputy Governor who travelled
to Barbados to meet the youthful Deltans.
From their base in Barbados, one of the trainees who
requested anonymity for fear of reprisal told
SaharaReporters, “In the past weeks we have received
several notices informing us to prepare for our deportation…
we must continue to let Deltans, Nigerians and the whole
world to know that the so called government youth program
is nothing but the highest scam so far in Delta State. Can
you imagine the Deputy Governor, Utuama can take a flight
to Barbados just to issue us deportation threats? The
program is nothing but a scam.”
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters has obtained a letter to the
trainees from the Delta State Government. Titled ‘Delta State
Youth Empowerment Programme: Notice of Suspension’ and
signed by Ataine Paul on behalf of the Commissioner for
Higher Education, the letter reads:
“I have been directed to inform you, our trainees in
Barbados, that in view of the challenges which you currently
face on welfare, the admissions process, coupled with
certain acts of rudeness exhibited by some of you,
Government has decided to suspend the Barbados end of
the programme.
“Consequent upon this, it is the decision of Government to
bring you our TRAINEES BACK FOR NOW. This is to enable
us review the process all over again with a view to sending
those who qualify, back to Barbados after the exercise. It
will equally afford Government time to address all the
identified challenges.
“I am further directed to urge you all to be calm and
peaceful, for no good thing in life comes easily. All
inconveniences are highly regretted. Thanks and God bless
you all. Amen.”
Among other grievances, the trainees had complained of
being housed in a poor hotel accommodation in “a
hurricane prone location as against the earlier procured
place at Infinity Hotel we were supposed to stay,” food
poisoning, and lack of water to bath. They had written and
sent a ‘Save Our Soul’ to the Delta State Government but
got no response.
Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope
Eghagha said his ministry is in charge of the programme
but dismissed allegations that it was a scam. He, however,
admitted knowing that the trainees were having some
accommodation challenges in Barbados.
http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/12/governor-uduaghan-orders-deportation-trainees-talking-saharareporters

Abeg bring dem home, make dem com follow vote.

A PDP governor behaving like a dictator.
Well, that's what they know how to do best.. Oppressing people