₦airaland Forum

Sweetguy25:
He doesn't drink, smoke or womanise like other politicians in Nigeria.

You must be his blood brother.

WIKE, PATIENCE JONATHAN LOOT, PARALYZE NDDC: AGENCY CAN'T PAY SALARIES

An ongoing investigation by SaharaReporters has revealed that former Education Minister Nyesom Wike and Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, collaborated in a number of
schemes that enabled them to loot the
resources of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).


Over a two-week investigation, insiders within the
commission told SaharaReporters that Mrs.
Jonathan and Mr. Wike, current governorship
candidate of the People Democratic Party in
Rivers State, caused a large part of the
commission’s current woes.

A source at the commission alleged that its
management gave Mrs. Jonathan N3 billion
immediately after the National Assembly
approved the commission’s budget. “They said
the First Lady had facilitated the passage of the
NDDC’s budget without delay by the National
Assembly. That’s why they gave her such a huge
sum. The payment was recorded as a
consultancy undertaking,” the source said.

In addition, money drained from the agency is
reportedly bankrolling Mr. Wike’s governorship
bid. “Barrister Wike is using billions of naira from
the NDDC to run his campaign. It is one of the
major reasons that the commission has not been
able to honor its obligations or pay salaries,”
another source at the commission stated.

Numerous sources said Mr. Wike had handpicked
Itotenaan Henry Ogiri as the agency’s executive
director (in charge of finance and
administration). The understanding was that Mr.
Ogiri, a close associate of the Ikwerre-born
governorship aspirant, would dip into the funds
of the commission to help finance Mr. Wike’s
campaign.
Bassey Dan Abia, a lawyer from Akwa Ibom State,
heads the commission’s management, which is
in its second year.

Several disaffected staffers
accused the management of financing other
political projects across the Niger Delta, contrary
to its mandate.
Mr. Wike’s campaign is said to enjoy a huge war
chest from the commission’s funds. The former
Education Minister, who is being backed by Mrs.
Jonathan, showers tons of dollars, his preferred
currency, on his supporters and underlings,
including some ex-militants he has retained to
intimidate supporters of his political opponents.

For the first time since then President Olusegun
Obasanjo rebranded the commission in 2000, the
NDDC missed the timetable to pay workers’
salary in January. In addition, senior staff of the
commission said they were distressed that their
housing, furniture and other allowances have not
been paid for the first time since the
establishment of the agency.

A long time staff of the commission said this was
the first time in his experience that the agency
had failed to pay salaries in more than a decade.
“I was employed here immediately after I
graduated from the University and the NDDC
started the graduate-training scheme. We have
never been owed salary ever. We used to receive
our salaries no later than the 22nd of every
month. But right now we don’t even know when
it is coming,” he said.

Another staff said the board of the commission
was filled with politicians who are bankrolling the
political aspirations of their puppet masters.
“We got over 400 billion naira for our budget last
year. But look at the situation we are in now. It’s
so embarrassing,” the staff said. He said the
board members were mere proxies who take
orders on how to run the agency from outsiders
who are only interested in what they can get
from the commission.
“They are running this place like a fiefdom, and
they receive orders from the politicians that put
them here. They have given all the money to
their political bosses and now we are in trouble
here.”

Occupants of the commission’s top management posts, including its chairman (from Cross River State), its executive director for projects (from Delta State), and its managing director (from Akwa Ibom) were accused of funneling funds to partisan political candidates. The governors of their state of origin nominated members of the management board, except in the case of Rivers State, where Mr. Wike chose. President Jonathan and Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers have been in a long running political feud.

The NDDC was set up to fund projects designed to ameliorate the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta caused by oil exploration. The area produces more than 80% of Nigeria’s wealth.

A staff source said that, while their salaries have not been paid, the management of the
commission was promising them a significant
bump in salaries and allowances if Mr. Jonathan wins re-election on February 14.
“They keep telling us to expect a lot of goodies
when the present president is returned as the
country’s ruler, but does it mean we have to die of hunger because they’re doing election?” the source said.

taharqa:
I thought I 'handled' this Wike did not do anything as a 'Minister' nonsense yterday

All I saw as the achievement you reeled out is the building of 'more than 120 Almajiri day and boarding Schools as well as about 16 Special Girls Schools were built across the country in just over a year'.

Lol. Do you even have an idea what the Educational sector is at all not to talk of the reforms it needs to be globally competitive? How many northern children even attends your so called 'Almajiri school'. I think Northerners deserve some apology by the hypocrisy and insults this past administration hurled on them just by the names of these shoddy and obscene projects they embarked upon to gain cheap political points.

You can copy the link below and look up some of his Looting history

saharareporters.com/2015/02/01/wike-patience-jonathan-loot-paralyze-nddc-agency-cant-pay-salaries

baby124:
SS people never see any anything. When PDP was rolling in money, no meaningful development. Yet they still voted them back in as a well done. Despite all the money the region collected. Now PDP is back in power at a time when it is desperate. Goodluck to the SS sha. I hope they take the time to make sure the governors work, because oil money is not the same again and not as plenty as before

Frankly my prayers are with them in Rivers state.

Dracula27:
Wetin you no know pass you (You cannot explain what you don't know cos it is beyond you).
Your view is a classic case of media misdirection.
From your post I can confidently say you are not from the state and are fed purely by the mass media.

Maybe you can explain to me what I don't know. Am a good listener.

Wike's Victory and some People's joy about it is one of the few mysteries am still finding hard to understand. Is this not the same Wike we know? This is someone that couldn't achieve jack in all the appointments he got in Jonathan's regime. He was always in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Besides have you heard the man speak? So aggressive, pugnacious and malicious. He doesn't even apply any modicum of diplomacy and intelligence when interviewed. And he never forgets to take his immense arrogance along wherever he goes. He's a Journalist's nightmare.

Yet because of this newly found Jonathanist Religion sweeping through SS and SE, anyone that votes against PDP is labelled a betrayer regardless of the incompetence of the PDP candidate. Its a new low in SS politics and time is the only surest thing I know will make this clear to them.

NB: Please this is a personal opinion and anyone is free to disagree if you choose to. However, do it with civility and void of insults. We are Homo Sapiens not Primitive Animals.

My people perish because of Lack of Knowledge.

kinibigdeal:
Are we voting in fashola or ambode? Most of fashola achievement was jimi agbaje bold ideas. Go and read his previous manifesto..seems you are clueless

*smh. What can I say?

I listened to the breakdown of Fashola's
achievement in Lagos on Stv today and I just
concluded that the man is the best Governor
Nigeria has ever had. He is so intelligent and
have all the facts up there in his head he reels
them out effortlessly. He also debunked most of the lies shoved down the people's throat by
PDP's Jimi Agbaje. He made Agbaje look
Clueless.

Ocean Economy. What does that even mean? He
doesn't even know the requirements of having
industrial boats that runs on consistent self-
generated power supply to service his crappy
dream. These are even Infrastructures Fashola
has almost finished putting in place. So what's
the news in that. The Fashola led Government
has touched virtually almost all sectors like
Health, Security, Education, Power,
Infrastructure just to mention a few. The facts
are there to see. Yet what Agbaje has to offer is an Ocean Economy! Has he even done a
feasibility study on the projected revenue that
can be derived from such a lame programme,
and how it will trickle down to transform other
sectors in Lagos including the common man
out there who isn't a fisherman. Bold ideas
indeed. What a clueless party!

Whoever you like vote for. If you like vote
because you want to prove a point to Oba
Akiolu, that's your problem. However, as for me and my house Akinwunmi Ambode is the way to go. Eko oni baje o.

oikechukwu:
What is this one saying? You mean the same NBS statistics that's currently being questioned? The one where SW was ranked the most poverty ridden in southern Nigeria in 2003 and years prior of that until your brother took over as the head of NBS and automatically SW jumped up to the least poverty in Nigeria. Are you mad? Out of all Southern region, which one has the highest aljmaries? SW. Even your people came out to beg, emphasis BEG, during Ojukwu burial. A man una despised yet una shamelessly begged during his burial...only poverty ridden community can be that shameless.

Oh while I'm at it, that same NBS ranked Osun as having the highest economy in Nigeria yet reality capult show us that your brother at the head was just writing down anything to make a worthless region look Good knowing it cannot look good in real life.
A supposed "highest" economy yet the said governor came out and told the whole world that the state is BROKE. They have no money to even pay salary talkless feed una. Yet your brother in NBS went and crowned it the "highest economy". I won't be surprised if the guy is from Osun state. Fabrication na una best friend.

One last thing, don't make me laugh on Yoruba so called "brain". It is how una eluded yourself as the "most educated" yet getting beat left and right by SS and SE students. Even an igbo son beat una in that government for a day education competition. The brain una have is one una eat during your cannabalism ritual.

And you don't work hard, you people don't work at all. That's why una have the highest number of agberos in Nigeria. That so called part dealer is feeding his family with his hardworking while a common yoruba is laying about waiting for when the government would pay them to be thugs for election. Brain ko, brain ni

Dude go to school. Your ignorance is baffling.

IGBOSON1:
^^^Igbos quite rightly should be proud of themselves for not only surviving in this helluva country, but doing relatively well when compared with other groups!

For instance, mention two other ethnic groups that quickly come to mind.....let's compare and contrast achievements with Ndigbo in relation to obstacles and advantages placed in their way!

What is this one saying?

oikechukwu:
As I said and I'll say again, stay the f2k away. Igbo land is not for LAZY LOTS. We already have some of your people we have to deal with constantly thinking igboland is like their SW where laziness is tolerated and experience expecting the government to take care of then like overgrown babies.

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CHESSBOARD:
.... A true Igbo man do not make peace with a man who do not speak peace let alone apologize for his stewpid utterances.

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Nice one. However, Ogbomoso people are not the most culturally laid back. I immensely disagree with that. Read more about them

#MyWishes

1). Power- This sector is the lifeblood of others. If there is power there will be a boost to Industries, especially Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. Cost of doing business will decrease and Unemployment will reduce.

2). Safety Nets- Safety nets like Unemployment Benefits for the extreme poor, Health care insurance programs e.t.c. Safety nets are prevalent all over the world that helps the poor access basic needs of life. Its the role of Government to provide these things.

3). Education- Our Educational Sector needs urgent overhauling. Personally I feel the Federal Government should do a form of partnership/contract with some professors abroad (whether retired or active). They will help us overhaul our curriculum to match international standards. Each Federal University will also have its dean to be a foreigner. They will also be doing on-the-job training for our own lecturers for the period their contract expires. This plan will span for like four years until our local lecturers learn what is demanded of them. Also, all first class and outstanding 2.1 students will be sponsored to study in a ivy league school abroad. The condition for the scholarship will be if they agree to lecture in a Federal Uni upon their arrival. This way, we can help revamp our educational sector gradually.

4). Diversification of the Economy- its no news that crude oil constitutes over 90% of our foreign exchange earnings. We have learned the hard way the cost of that mono-cultural dependence on oil. Hence its my wish if there can be a robust plan that will stimulate other sectors of the economy like Agric and Agro allied sector, Mining sub-sector, Steel industries, Textile, e.t.c this will help boost economic activities and also decrease unemployment.

5). Tax system- Tax is the major channel of income for the Government. When it is insufficient, projects that will benefit the people suffers, debts swells etc. Currently our Tax/GDP ratio is just 12% in which only 4% is from non-oil revenue. This shows that our tax agencies are ineffective. And because of a weak tax system income inequality will keep soaring since the redistribution of income role of Government can only be done if the tax system is efficient. This should be urgently addressed.

6). Security- I can't help but mention this one. Man functions best in an environment void of violence and fear. Even foreign investors won't want to invest here when they know the country isn't safe. Hence, this incoming Government should check the recruitment process in all the security agencies and make sure it meets standard procedures. Corruption should also be eliminated in those agencies while bringing stiff penalties for those who disobey this rule. Investments should also be made in Intelligence gathering. Even if it will take government sponsoring the bright ones in those agencies to go for courses in line with intelligence gathering and criminology. Lastly, discipline should be upheld. Every officer should behave responsibly. Any act that negates that should be severely dealt with.

#GodblessNigeria

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Dominiquez:
Let's give JIMI a chance.

We cannot take chances.

mensdept:
How do you know he is going to build it? I know from his record he crossed over it to shoot and kill folks in 1967. I know he detained people anyhow, including Mbakwe who Igbo say was a good governor. I know he has human right s violations. I know he by fiat became the candidate for all those Northern sponsored parties that changed from ANPP to CPC to APC, etc., and I know that people like you who were clamoring for the military to go, are very happy to see the military back, all because they posted pics of themselves copying Obama

Quote me anywhere- The worst Military ruler in Nigeria did far better than Jonathan. Even though no past leader even had half of the wealth Jonathan wasted in the space of his six years rule. Who cares what uniform you are wearing. What matters is do the freaking job!.

omenka:
AIT staffers would be biting their fingers in regret.

I now hate that channel with raw passion. I know if Gbenga and Amarere could have their way, they'd rather throw in the towel.

Am still doubting if your hatred for AIT is as deep as mine now. Their Journalism stinks at best. This election revealed who they are.

waternogetemeny:
Honestly, i no longer meet any igbo person that is happy in Nigeria.


Even the ones on televison and social media that spend alot of time on air or online with yorubas, that i assumed where sellouts are looking very sad and unhappy.


Can we have that UN supervised Referendum to stay or leave Nigeria now?



The vote to leave or stay is our right and we need to have that vote now.

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todayboy:
Buahri was asked by Amanpour On how he planned to tackle economic challenges in the face of dwindling oil prices, the general stressed that the money saved from corruption is enough to handle the country's economic challenges.

How can solve you all our problem in Nigeria and pay every youth 5000 naira monthly from proceed from corruption? Those who call Jonathan clueless will see real cluelessness soon.

I doubt if buhari can represent Nigeria well in world stage like United Nations Assembly



http://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/04/01/intv-nigeria-elections-amanpour-muhammadu-buhari.cnn

Talk less, read more.

engradeiza:
I rather comment on the choice of words used by fresh360 in his rejoinder on this post.
This is a humble forum for people to share ideas, knowledge, humor, pains and opinions in most cases as just did by olmideayodeji1. Insulting words for a simple expression of opinion is rather unfortunate.
Looking at his arguments which I rather settle with, Nigeria is no dubbed the 'giant' of Africa and whatever we do will be copied by sister nations. Nigeria is not the first nation for incumbent losing to opposition. It has happened in Ghana. Even if you argued otherwise, whats wrong if Nigeria should? The nation has lost her moral ground so much such that doing the usual becomes unusual. It explains why state governors will buy airtime on paid media to showcase the so called dividends of democracy by fielding road-rehabilitation, bore-holes, dispensaries, two block primary schools amongst other petty projects as achievements. You ask yourself what is government primary functions if canvasing all these as dividends?
GEJ is a hero is an over statement (personal opinion) giving his dossiers as a president. Agreed the nation was tensed up prior to his phone call. No doubt lives would have been lost as a fallout to his rejection. However, JEGA is also on the part of history and not even GEJ's refusal can deter him. Defying all antics to ruling government in Africa is no joke, believing in your dreams and your nation like Abraham Linc is equally no joke otherwise Abraham wouldn't have been famous and finally, accepting the truth is act of godliness again not a joke with sitting presidents. So.......
Who do you think is the real hero here? BUHARI, GEJ or JEGA?

JEGA stood by sacred principles even at the face of intense intimidation and threats. Am sure he would have received numerous death threats yet nothing deterred him from upholding what he deemed right. He's closer to a Hero than GEJ in my opinion.

fresh360:
FTC.....

op.... which 1 dy pain you for dis issue.....
is it dat u dnt knw wat to do with ur miserable or date u r jealous of the way pipu r praising him..... you sound like an individual who has lost hope in words...

what you fail to get is dat he is the sitting president... so he cud go against the result if he wanted to or ruled out d result or even sack jaga b4 the election and put some who will do his biding

you are an APC supporter does nt mean u hv d ryt to spit out magot
What happened to buhari in 2011 if jona had acted dat way do u fink u will even b in ur house ryt now more or less spit out dis juice u r sayin
fine he was defeated no doubt bt do u fink is every one dat accept defeat while still in power
you fool

You would have still made your point without having to say offensive things.

The beauty of Opinions is that they are normally meant to differ. Well, this is mine-Jonathan is no Hero. He's not even close. Someone conceded defeat after years of an easy ride in politics and epic failure of leadership, then just a phone call suddenly makes him Mandela. How ridiculous can we get as a Nation.

What were his options really? He will end up going to court where he will contend with the fierce army of APC legal doyens like Fashola, Osinbajo, most likely Falana e.t.c on a rigging case that APC even has better evidence to nail him than the other way round....then after a few weeks of public and International rebuke, the stubborn but calm Jega will uphold his decision; GEJ will be disgraced out of office. Checkmate.

Its a democratic system of Government for goodness sake!. How will he had prevented Buhari from becoming the President after INEC had announced him the winner?. Has there been any President that INEC announced lost an election and yet didn't abdicate his 'throne'?. Jonathan is the First Incumbent to be Defeated. Its obvious that if he had entered the legal fight, he will most likely lose; the record will then change to the 'First Incumbent to be Disgraced out of Office'.

Obasanjo stood by his words by being the first Military Head to hand over power to a Civilian even though no one dares challenge him if he didn't. Did we call him a Hero? No!
Buhari as a Military ruler in the 80s tacitly 'conceded' defeat by knowing about a coup plan against him and yet allowed it. Did we call him a Hero? Of course No!.

Reputation matters in everything especially in Politics. Jonathan's advisers did the math and saw the end of the road, then decided to use their ingenuity (I must admit) to make him take a bow when the ovation of his fans are loudest. It worked at the end. They manipulated people's sympathy for him and declared him a Hero. He's a matured politician I give him that. But calling him a Hero is a bit of a stretch.

Its an insult to the Awos, Adekunles, Azikwes, Sardaunas, Enahoros, of this world to equate Jonathan to their ilk. Let's not even go near Mandela. Jonathan isn't close by a long shot.

Goodluck Jonathan didn't do anyone a favour by Conceding defeat. He did himself a favour. And the Victory is for Us the Electorates not him.

[quote author=donxab post=32237744]We shall DEFINITELY bounce back!

So said Alameseigha on His way to the Prison some years back....
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Dindera:
See Mr Man!

Most people that voted for Buhari did so cos of tribalism,religion, and not cos he is better than Jonathan.... so get that into ur senseless brain! Chibok girls, Bokoharam etc are all the propaganda used by the people that did everything possible to paint his government incompetent and it did work for dem! But soon, the real enemy of Nigeria will be Unleashed! It has already started self. The so called Bokoharam don keep shut! Why are they shutting up? Why are they not bombing yet? Are they happy their Oga won? Oh! I guess so! But let's wait and see what happens to them. The Chibok girls where never adopted and will never be recovered.

In this country, there will always be tribalism, hatred etc whether u like it or not!
This is mankind and you and me have to start learning to live with it.

I rest my case.

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