[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari on Friday broke silence on the plethora of probes of government ministries, agencies and parastatals.

Speaking after Eid Kabir prayer, Buhari confirmed that there were abuse of trust by government officials. He was specifically reacting to the legislative probe of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“There has been an abuse of trust by people trusted by the previous administration and this administration.

He explained that all of such cases would be uncovered and firmly dealt with by his administration.

Adding, he said: “A number of assets have been recovered and some money.

He assured Nigerians that all past and present allegations would be investigated with the appropriate sanction through investigative panel that has been put in place.

According to him, the introduction of TSA was meant to be a central point where all monies domiciled, adding that he had earlier directed that. assets confiscated should be sold and put in the TSA account.

By doing this, the President argued, will be impossible for the same people to misappropriate it again while expressing satisfaction that some stolen assets are being recovered, sold and proceeds put into the Single Treasury Account (TSA), which is inaccessible to the corrupt persons involved.

Grassroots Publishers earlier report that the Senate investigative panel has indicted the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) headed by Pondei Daniel to the tune of N40 billion which was spent within three months from the NDDC account.

In the Committee report which was submitted to the Senate plenary, raised rage as Senators making contributions over the outcome of report that revealed the IMC spent N80.5 billion in six months expressing disappointment at how the NDDC has been turned into a cash cow.

In the resolution, Nigeria Senate called for the disbandment of IMC, as well as asking the beneficiaries of shared monies to refund.

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]T will be just and equitable for President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over to candidate from the Southeast in 2023, the Ohanaeze Youths said on Thursday. It insisted that it was the turn of the Southeast to produce the President’s successor.

According to him, for equity, peace and justice to reign, Nigerians, especially the North, should support the Southeast in their bid.

“Buhari should hand over to an Igbo candidate in 2023. It is a glaring fact that it is the turn of the Southeast in 2023,” Dozie said. To him, anything short of a President from the Southeast will not be fair to the region.

Also, President of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Anambra State, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, restated the organisation’s position that is the Southeast’s turn to produce President Buhari’s successor.

Dozie and Okeke-Ogene were reacting to a statement yesterday by past Secretary-General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Anthony Sani, who said that President Buhari was not a product of rotation.

Dozie said the former ACF scribe was expressing his personal opinion.

Mallam Mamman Daura, President Buhari’s family member, stirred the hornet’s nest when he said in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Wednesday that only the most competent, irrespective of region, should be elected as President in 2023.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) distanced itself from Daura’s statement.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, said: “That is not our position but a personal opinion by an individual who happens to be a member of our party.”

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) denounced Daura’s comments.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, said: “We shall come up with our zoning formula which will define where our presidential candidate will come from.”

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Delta State Government has officially inaugurated the SMART Delta Farmers Market, Abraka in Asaba. The inauguration was for use by the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who was represented by the Commissioner for Power and Energy, Hon. Basil Ganagana.

The governor stated that the SMART Delta Farmers Market would serve as a central point for the selling of farm produce in Asaba. He said that apart from adding beauty to the Abraka area in Asaba, the SMART Delta Farmers Market was a brain child of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency to transform the environment for business activities to thrive.
The governor who, also, inaugurated the Abraka Garden and the new motor park, disclosed that the projects were clear indications that his transformed environment through urban renewal was on course.
He lauded the Director General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Hon. Onyemaechi Mrakpor for turning dump sites into recreational and business centres.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu noted that the food stands, the garden and the park would provide employment opportunities and expand the frontiers of business activities in Asaba.
Mr. Aniagwu said that the giant strides of Hon. Mrakpor and her team in the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency had positively given a new look to the metropolitan city of Asaba and its environs.
Earlier, the Director General of the Agency, Hon. Onyemaechi Mrakpor said that the new SMART Delta Farmers Market was part of efforts to establish a spot where people could go and buy food stuff such as rice, beans, yams and fruits on the road rather than the conventional market.
While saying that there is a bore-hole and water system toilet facility with a wash hand basin in the SMART Delta Farmers Market, Hon. Mrakpor said the garden was to beautify the environment, pointing out that the new motor park would be for vehicles to park, even as she pledged to redouble efforts in the state government urban renewal drive.

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]enator Ifeanyi Okowa , the Executive Governor of Delta State has congratulated the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, on his 96th birth anniversary said that the Asagba had provided purposeful, courageous and tenacious leadership for the Asaba people over the years and deserved to be celebrated on his new, great and enviable age.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba on Tuesday, the governor commended the monarch for making Asaba peaceful and investment-friendly since he ascended the throne of his forefathers 29 years ago.

He lauded the erudite professor and monarch for his contributions to the development of Asaba and for being a good host to Deltans and Nigerians as the traditional ruler of the capital city of Delta State.

Okowa added that His Majesty also initiated cultural and traditional reforms for the enhancement of the living conditions of the people of the kingdom, and ensured their appropriate recognition and strategic relevance in the ever-important traditional institution in our society.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I warmly felicitate with His Royal Majesty, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, CFR, the Asagba of Asaba, on the occasion of his 96th birth anniversary.

“We pray that the Almighty God will continue to give you good health and wisdom to pilot the traditional affairs of your kingdom and offer valuable contributions to the development of our dear Delta State and Nigeria,” he stated.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he ultra-modern multi-billion naira state secretariat complex being executed by Delta Government in Asaba would be ready for inauguration in October, 2020.
The state Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, made this known on Friday while speaking with journalists shortly after inspecting the flagship project.
Okowa, who expressed satisfaction with the level of work on the project in spite of delay occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, urged the contracting firm to sustain the pace of work.
He said that the internal works being done were laudable and promised to visit the site in the next four weeks with view to ensuring that project was inaugurated for workers to use as projected.
The governor pointed out that all papers relating to more logistics and funding of the complex had been approved, and pledged to ensure that nothing hindered the completion of the project on schedule.
On the provision of electricity for the gigantic edifice and other government offices in Asaba, the governor disclosed that government was partnering a private firm to handle the supply. He expressed optimism that the issue of power would be delivered soon so as to make the edifice and other government offices more comfortable for workers to give their best in productivity.
Conducting the governor round various sections of the edifice, the representative of the contracting firm, Mr Kester Ifeadi, said that everything needed for the project to be completed was already. He assured the governor that the project would be completed before the end of September.
Ifeadi commended the governor for his support towards the early completion of the project and said that the work would be completed in line with contractual agreement.
The governor was accompanied by the Commissioner for Housing, Chief Festus Ochonogor and his counterpart in Special Duties, Dr. Henry Sakpra.

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]esidents of the commercial city of Onitsha and environs in Anambra State have called on the federal government to commence the rehabilitation of Onitsha-Owerri road, to alleviate the sufferings of motorists.

Describing the road as a death trap to motorists and commuters, the respondents said, there was the need for the federal government to urgently intervene on the road.

They told our reporter at Onitsha area, that the trunk A road, linking the rest of the country to most parts of South-East region, is critical to the socio-economic life of the people. At around Nwazike Street, Awada, the road has cut off leading to traffic gridlock as motorists try to manoeuvre their way.

Chairman, Old Motor Parts Dealers Association, Obosi, Chief Samuel Ezeobodo decried the adverse effects of the road on socio-econoic activities, recounting several losses and damages as a result of incessant falling of heavy duty and articulated vehicles along the road.

Also, some motorists, including Messrs Elendu Chukwu and Hyginus Nsofor expressed dismay that the deplorable nature of the road has lingered for over two years.

A stakeholder in the area, Mr. Celestine Ezewuru while saying that the state was known for trade and commerce, maintained that transportation and good road network are essential in boosting businesses as well as revenue profile of the government and the citizenry.

They echoed the need for the federal government to urgently rehabilitate the road.

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]enator Peter Nwaoboshi ,the Senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly, had denied executing any job with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and had asked the commission, and the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio to prove it.

The Senator who was reacting to the recent allegation in a letter submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajiamila, that he executed a total of 53 projects between the 2017 to 2019.

Senator Nwaoboshi, represented by one of his Legislative Aide, Awele Onokwai SNR, said that it’s pertinent that the records be set straight for posterity sake, and for the greater sake of the unsuspecting public.

He stated that the minister of Niger Delta Affairs has constantly churned out several lies in an attempt to ridicule and undermine the probe by the National Assembly into the financial activities of the Interim Management Committee, IMC.

“It is pertinent that we set the records straight for the sake of posterity and for the greater sake of the unsuspecting general public, who may be Hoodwinked into believing the several lies constantly churned up by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in an attempt to ridicule and undermine the probe by the National Assembly into the financial activities of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC.”

He stated that at no time whatsoever has he executed any contract on, for or on behalf of the NDDC. Pointing out the said 53 contracts allegedly listed to have been executed, were awarded to different companies believed to have been registered with the corporate commission, CAC.

We make bold to state categorically, the following:

“Since his election into the Nigerian Senate as the Senator representing the good people of Niger Delta, Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has, at no time whatsoever, executed any contract on for or on behalf of the NDDC.”

“The 53 contracts allegedly listed to have been executed by Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi were awarded to different companies and we believe these companies must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), a federal parastatal charged with the responsibility of overseeing the existence of corporate entities in Nigeria.”

He therefore challenged the minister to prove by liaising with the CAC to publish for public consumption, the names of Shareholders as well Board of Directors of the companies, as he had severally called on the publications of the companies involved.

“He who alleges must prove and it is on this sacred maxim that we are challenging the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to liaise with the Corporate Affairs Commission to publish, for public consumption, the names of Shareholders as well as Board Of Directors of the companies that executed the repairs of the purportedly 53 contracts awarded to Distinguished Senator

Peter Nwaoboshi.”

“On several instances, Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has publicly challenged his detractors to publish their facts for the general public and up until this very moment, none have been able to provide water-tight prove or evidence in their failed attempts to implicate the Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.”

“As far as Senator Peter Nwaoboshi is concerned, his hands are clean. He is neither a staff of the NDDC nor is he saddled with the responsibility of paying contractors and  it becomes extremely mischievous of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to try and drag the reputation of the esteemed Lawmaker in negative lights.”

He called on the general public to be wary of the antics of the Minister, which he is using to distract on enquiry of N81bn he had so far misappropriated.

“It is highly instructive for the general public to be wary of  the incoherent nature of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and his acolytes planted in the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC.”

“Initially, these inglorious liars told Nigerians and the world that a seating Senator was awarded 1,000 contracts in the NDDC and when pressed to shed some light on such weighty accusation, they recanted to 350 contracts and when further quizzed, it suddenly became 53 contracts. The level of inconsistency of the Minister and his stooges at the IMC is quite alarming and legendary and Nigerians can see the desperate but failed attempt by them to cover their tracks but then, lies have short legs, they don’t travel far.”

“We challenge Senator Godswill Akpabio to Account for the over N81bn he has so far misappropriated at the NDDC and stop diverting the attention of the general public. If Senator Godswill Akpabio feels there are incriminating issues which need to be addressed, we urge him to go to the relevant security agencies.”

“Senator Peter Nwaoboshi as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta is absolutely committed to discharging his legislative and oversight functions as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) much to the admiration of his constituents and Nigerians at large and no amount of paid media campaign of calumny against his person or Office will take his feet off the gas as he is determined to serve Nigerians distinctly.”