Pa Clark Endorses Ex Gov Dickson For Bayelsa West Senatorial District Election

...Says Ijaw Nation needs tested men of character, courage, capacity in the National Assembly

Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has endorsed the immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson, for the vacant Bayelsa West Senatorial District election.

The Media Advisor to the former Governor, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, also quoted the foremost Ijaw National Leader as having called on Ijaw leaders across the country to support the ex-Governor for the vacant Senatorial slot in the collective interest of the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta.

Pa Clark said that Bayelsa and indeed the Ijaw nation was seriously in need of men of demonstrable character, courage, capacity and knowledge like Dickson to run for Senate.

He said that the former Governor possesses vast experience in leadership, the political network, and the requisite knowledge to effectively tackle the critical issues of interest to the Ijaw nation such as Resource Control, True Federalism, Restructuring, Power Devolution among others.

The Elder Statesman said that Dickson should be backed for the Senatorial slot as his antecedents have rightly portrayed him as a man of immense courage, integrity and honour who has never for once succumbed to intimidation of whatever form.

Pa Clark stressed that Dickson was well equipped and prepared to defend the interest of the Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta, the South South and to collaborate with his counterparts in other parts of the country to make Nigeria a better nation.

He said that the ex-Governor left behind a record of sterling performance as a member of the House of the House of Representatives and as Governor of Bayelsa State for eight years.

Pa Clark recalled that the former Governor declared emergency in the education sector, established two universities, a polytechnic, several free boarding secondary schools, the Bayelsa International Airport, Roads and bridges, and several facilities in the health, agriculture, and other sectors.

“The Ijaw nation today, more than ever before, needs people with strong character, to run for the Senate, to tackle the lingering issues, and the interest of the Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta; such as Restructuring, True Federalism, Resource Control, and other pertinent matters in the defense of the Ijaw interest, the South-South and indeed the country.

“I make bold to declare that His Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, the immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, has displayed the quintessential Ijaw virtues of honour, courage and integrity, and has never succumbed to intimidation. I believe that he would advance our cause and join other compatriots to work for a better and greater Nigeria.

“He is well versed on issues of Restructuring, True Federalism, Devolution of Power and Resource Control. He has the right language to deploy, the charisma, the right commitment and determination to achieving these objective.

“As a former member of the House of Representatives, he has a hands-on experience on legislative procedures and workings, the leadership acumen to weather through murky waters of parliamentary democracy and gymnastics. Governor Dickson has been a leading voice in the call for restructuring of this country. He makes no pretention about it.

“As the fourth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria, we stand to gain more by working together than by singing discordant tunes. We must, therefore, settle for the best to represent our interest at the national level.” He said

Pa Clark’s comment follows endorsements by various groups including leaders of the Ijaw Yourhs Council, other youth and women groups, across the Senatorial District.

Insecurity: Understanding The Coalition Of Northern Group As A Virus

By Adio Waziri

The biggest joke of the century is the so-called Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) which issued an ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to stem the tide of insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria or face mass protest. Ironically, the group is one of the reasons insecurity persists in northern Nigeria. 

A bunch of gerontocrats, who in their old age are claiming to belong to an age they have long crossed and are usurping the chances of the real youths in the society, have done more harm to the north than even some of the violent groups that have taken up arms against the Nigerian state. These mercenaries who hide under the guise of 'youths' to offer their services to political recidivists have again offered their discredited platform to the highest bidder to discredit the current administration. Their aim is to make the President Buhari-led administration look bad so they latched on to the recent security breaches witnessed in some northern parts of the country to make their kill. Unfortunately for them, however, this is one area people know they lack moral ground to issue any warning on as the leaders of this so-called Coalition have been the major cause of insecurity. 

Apart from encouraging laziness through thuggery, they have by their over-reliance on renegade and self-serving politicians built an army of followers from among an otherwise innocent, hardworking and unsuspecting lot and have come to make them believe the only way they can make ends meet is through violence and sabotage.

This group has done the worst service to northern interests by taking away the minds of the youths from usefully engaging in productive activities like farming and another semi-skilled labour and putting them on the streets in the name of hired protesters and some times nudging them into acts of violence. They are like Boko Haram that made young and promising northern youths to abandon school and tear their certificates with a promise of an Eldorado in brigandage and opportunism.

The CNG cannot be absolved from the corollary effect of the drug abuse that is killing northern youths as they have made these young and hapless recruits believe that the only way they can do the bidding of these misguided elements is to take mind-bending substances.

The height of the chicanery of this group, however, was the ultimatum they gave citizens of Nigeria some time back to vacate the North not minding the social, economic and security implication of that statement. To them, satisfying their paymasters to have more zeros added to their cheques was more important to them than the peace and unity of this country knowing fully well that their statement would have led to a major crisis of great proportions if not for divine intervention. 

It is this same set of people who want people to take them serious about the security situation in the north when it is clear to everyone that they are the problem. They cause a problem to happen and then hide behind one finger to pretend that they are doing something about it.

If that had been the only damage it would have been tolerable, but everybody knows that in this particular outing as in others, it is the voice of Jacob but the hands of Esau playing out and there's no denying the fact that they are being sponsored by the failed presidential candidate of an opposition party, who is doing his best to discredit the current administration. 

But that is not even the height of inanities. The stupidity of their position is exposed in the fact that they are issuing a threat to an administration that has done more than any other to secure Nigeria and every of its citizen wherever they find themselves. 

The CNG does not know and will not appreciate the much the government has committed to ensuring peace and security in Nigeria because they have been busy going around collecting money from political opponents and making all manners of careless statements to check. 

Neither would the group appreciate the much the government has done in terms of security when its leaders are busy misleading youths to abandon their lawful jobs to line up as thugs for politicians in the bid to line their pockets with filthy lucre.

However, CNG, even with its nonsensical posture and infantile pretence cannot say it did not know the efforts the current administration has put in place to ensure peace the last time it was asking certain citizens to vacate northern Nigeria. 

If only they know the shuttles top government officials had to engage in to suppress the angst of people and the number of efforts by security agencies to proactively nip the threats in the bud, they would not have been opening their mouths to comment on anything concerning security in the next five decades!

To be sure, the current administration does not need any reminder, least of all from an irresponsible bunch of useless adult delinquents to show commitment to security in Nigeria. President Buhari made it clear even in his inaugural speech that security, alongside the economy and fight against corruption would form the focus of his administration. He has not disappointed. 

The current administration has taken steps that dealt heavy blows on insurgency, banditry and related crimes. Troops recaptured all the local governments under the control of Boko Haram and checkmated the activities of criminal all over the country. 

CNG cannot pretend not to recognize the efforts of the Inspector General of Police Special Team led by ACP Abba Kyari which busted several hideouts of criminals including that of the most notorious kidnapper in the country, Evans, and arrested him or Nigerian troops sacked the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists from Sambisa forest and established a base at camp Zairo and rescued school girls that were captured in Dapchi, Yobe State.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai to show the seriousness of the government towards curbing insecurity, relocated to the Northeast and has been fighting the insurgents with great success. Last week, when there was a security breach in Katsina, all the Service Chiefs went to reinforce their commitment which led to counter operations that destroyed the base of the criminals and many of them were captured.

The government did all these without waiting for any hired group to remind it of its responsibilities to its citizens. The Federal Government is alive to its responsibilities towards citizens and does not need a bunch of lazy adults who prefer to see themselves as 'youths' to remind it, hence they can keep their advice to themselves. 

At the juncture, however, it is right to advice these elders who want to see themselves as youths that the best way they can help in addressing the problem of insecurity is to stop running to politicians for sponsorship on mischief and begin to seek gainful employment. They can lead the youths by example through farming and agriculture or by engaging in other skilled or semi-skilled labour.

Waziri is a development expert based in Kaduna.

US, UK And EU To Blame For Entrenchment Of Boko Haram In Nigeria - Centre

The Centre for International and Strategy Studies (CISS) has blamed the United States of America, United Kingdom and the European Union for the entrenchment of the nefarious activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria. 

CISS said the failure of the western powers to come to the aid of the country in arresting sponsors and promoters of the group is responsible for the elongation of the crisis in the northeast. 

In a statement signed by Secretary, Dr Ifure Ataifure, on Thursday, the centre said that the radical Islamist sect have continued to receive external support from foreign countries at the detriment of Nigeria.

According to CISS, instead of joining forces with Nigeria, the US, UK and EU have failed to embargo the sale of arms to the terrorists

The Centre added that these powerhouses' decision to turn a blind eye on the sensitive area is a deliberate plot to begin the process of recolonizing Africa.  

CISS further revealed that French authorities are the most culpable in this regards through the flagrant violations of all known international protocols.

The Centre for International and Strategy Studies, however, warned countries covertly fueling Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Nigeria and other African countries to desist.

It added that the war against terrorism should be a collective one  and foreign nations must block the sale of arms to the terrorists. 

Read full statement below:

The Centre for International and Strategy Studies wishes to state that the entrenchment of the nefarious activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria is as a result of the lackadaisical attitude of some of the western powers in coming to the aid of Nigeria.  

The United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European Union have all failed to come to the aid of Nigeria despite repeated overtures from the Nigerian government and other critical stakeholders. 

We wish to state that this attitude is responsible for the prolongation of the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria because the terrorist group has been receiving external support from some European countries that are hell-bent on the disintegration of Nigeria.

These countries have been nothing but uncooperative with the Nigerian authorities by its refusal to sell arms to Nigeria for the prosecution of the Boko Haram war. The United States of America for inexplicable reasons have also refused to activate the necessary machinery for the sale of arms and ammunition to Nigeria in the prosecution of the Boko Haram war. 

The United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European Union for inexplicable reasons have also refused to block the sale of arms to terrorist organizations in Nigeria and the African continent. This fact has indeed bolstered the activities of terrorism in Nigeria and other African countries.

The Centre for International and Strategy Studies views this action as against the provisions of the global war on terror, which had as its goal to prevent another 9/11 terrorist attack by increasing international security worldwide. 

The Centre for International and Strategy Studies wishes to state that global commitment has not been extended to Nigeria since the Boko Haram group began its violent campaign in Nigeria in 2009. 

The activities of the Boko Haram group has continued with tactic support from some EU countries that have been engaged in unwholesome trade in arms and ammunition with the Boko Haram/ISWAP group and other terrorist groups operating in the African continent. 

We are tempted to state that this stance of turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed by terrorist organizations in the African continent might be a deliberate plot by these western countries to begin the process of recolonizing Africa so that it can have unhindered access to its natural and economic resources.  

The French authorities are the most culpable in this regards through the flagrant violations of all known international protocols by paying ransoms in huge amounts to terrorist organizations in Africa, which subsequently helps these organizations to sustain their terror activities. 

The Centre for International and Strategy Studies is alarmed to state that despite the efforts of the Nigerian Military, the Boko Haram group continues to have an unhindered supply of arms and ammunitions whose origin has been traced to some European countries.

The Centre for International and Strategy Studies wishes to use this medium to warn those countries that have been covertly fueling the activities of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group in Nigeria and other African countries to desist from their nefarious acts in the interest of peace and tranquillity.

This is the time for the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the European Union to come to the rescue of Nigeria by blocking the sale of illegal weapons to the Boko Haram terrorist group. 

They must see the war against terrorism in Nigeria as a collective one due to the strategic importance of Nigeria in the African continent. The time to act is now to bring to an end the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group and other terrorist groups in Africa.

N-Power Batch C And Matters Arising

By Dan Ochonu 

There seems to be an uprising concerning the decision of the Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to introduce new beneficiaries into the N-Power scheme under a revised and robust template that would be of utmost benefit to the teeming youthful population in the country. 

I am sure it should be surprising to discerning minds that some people would elect to view things only from the prism of their selfish interest. If this is not the case, I wonder on what basis the beneficiaries under the Batch A and B programme are protesting even with the fact that they have stayed in the programme for over 40 months.  

As a first, I think it is essential to understand that the N-Power is a job creation and empowerment programme instituted by the Federal Government of Nigeria through its National Social Investment Programmes. In other words, it's a skill acquisition programme where youths from various parts of the country are trained in various skills under four broad categories such as N-Power Agro, where volunteers will provide advisory services to farmers across the country disseminate the knowledge that has been aggregated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the area of extension services. They will also gather data on Nigeria's agriculture assets.

Another category is the N-Power Teach volunteers that are deployed as teachers assistants in primary schools to help improve essential education delivery in Nigeria, and where possible, they will also assist in taking basic education to children in marginalized communities. 

The N-Power Health Volunteers help improve and promote preventive healthcare in their communities to vulnerable members of the society, including pregnant women and children and families and individuals. 

N-Power Build, Tech and Creative volunteers have received extensive training to help develop and expand their respective skillset, which would help foster innovation and creativity among the youths, while ensuring that they can turn their skills into marketable products. The above explains the N-Power initiative of the Federal Government. 

It is therefore pertinent to state that since inception in 2018, the N-Power scheme has catered for over 500,000 youths in the country with 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018. These participants have been trained in various skills as mentioned above that they can deploy to their advantage in future. But ironically, this is not the case as the advocates that have been acting on behalf of these participants wants the programmes to be a permanent and salaried job. 

This, in my opinion, is anti-progressive in the sense that they want others to be denied the same opportunity that they had when they enrolled. This is a sad episode if you ask me given the fact that the Batch A and B beneficiaries have elected to let hell loose because the federal government revised the programme to allow room for new beneficiaries under the proposed Batch C programme. 

Welcome to Nigeria where patriotism is never the watchword if you decide to stand on the side of truth and to do the right thing, you are regarded as a villain. In my view, the actions of those that have launched an attack on the honorable minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development are nothing but greedy, selfish and against the interest of the country. 

If this is not the case, how could one explain a situation where doing the right and putting the interest of the country has become a crime as propagated by the earlier beneficiaries on the N-Power programme. This is a sad tale, and I am glad that someone has decided to change the narrative, not minding the series of coordinated attacks on her. 

It must be stated and expressly so that the N-Power initiative is for the generality of Nigerians and not for a few, so seeing it as a birthright is phenomenally wrong in all ramification. This much these set of greedy fellows must come to terms with. It is also unimaginable considering the fact that Nigeria boasts of one of the highest youthful populations in the world.  

I think rejigging the N-Power scheme to bring in new people on board is not only a welcome development; it is also an act of purposefulness in a bid to address some of the challenges facing the country.  

If only Nigerians would understand that the revised N-Power scheme would run for six months – one year depending on the category. According to available information on the N-Power Scheme website, N-Agro, N-Build, N-Creative and N-Tech will run for six months (with two batches a year), the N-Teach and N-Health part of the programme will run for one year. For the six month programmes, three months will be used for training beneficiaries, while the other three months will be used for mentorship and attachment to partners and stakeholders.

This is indeed brilliant in the sense that more youths would have the opportunity to be enrolled in the scheme in the bid to better their lives, unlike in times past where the programme ran for a duration of 2 years, thereby depriving other qualified candidates the opportunity to benefit from this laudable initiative. 

If not for anything, the honorable minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development has indeed justified the confidence reposed in her by Mr. President to ensure rapid and meaningful implementation of the various social intervention programmes of the federal government.

The proposed introduction of the Batch C under the scheme must go as planned because it is not only laudable; it is in the overall interest of the country that would be of immense benefit to the teeming youths in the country because over 400,000 new beneficiaries would be admitted into the programme in the following order: 200,000 beneficiaries into the N-Power Agro programme, 80,000 into the N-Power Teach Programme, 40,000 into the N-Health Programme, and 80,000 into the N-Power Build, Creative and Tech categories. 

I commend the minister in this regard and encourage her not to relent in her valuable service to the country. And those that think that they have a birthright to stay put for life in the N-Power scheme should have a rethink and retrace their steps. It is expected that the knowledge and experience garnered over 40 months should be put to use for the benefit of the country. 

The N-Power C project must go ahead as planned. The minister must not back down despite the avalanche of attack on her person so long the overarching objective is ensuring that more youths are accommodated in the scheme. This is what Nigeria needs, and our support for the likes of Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq should be unflinching.

Ochonu is an unemployed youth and wrote this piece from MAKURDI, Benue State.

VVIP Guest House, Asaba; Contract Done Through Selective Tendering Process - NCSD.

The Nigeria Civil Society Desk has lashed out at a correspondent with the National Mirror Newspapers, Mr. Idemude Amour, for reporting  of financial impropriety leveled against the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Government House and Protocol, Asaba, Delta State, Mr. Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje.

In a press release jointly signed by N National Coordinator, Comrade Emeh Friday and National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Peter Nwokolo, they said that the renovation of the VVIP Guest House, Asaba, comprising of 8(nos) Duplexes, which is the subject of the allegation, was carried out in 2017 by contract through the selective tendering process.

Excerpt is the full text of the press release

The report of financial impropriety leveled against Mr. Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje, Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Government House and Protocol, Asaba, Delta State, by Mr. Idemude Amour, a correspondent with the National Mirror Newspapers and reported by Sahara Reporters, came to us in the Nigeria Civil Society Desk, as an attempt to smear his reputation, thereby causing distraction.

Though the motive is still sketchy, we thought it necessary to put the records straight and discourage prospective faceless alarmists from creating confusion with the intention of derailing the activities of Government. 

Having resolved to know the facts, we visited the Office of the Directorate of Government House and Protocol, Asaba, the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Energy and the State Fire Service. Our findings revealed, among others:

* That the renovation of the VVIP Guest House, Asaba, comprising of 8(nos) Duplexes, which is the subject of the allegation, was carried out in 2017, by contract through the selective tendering process;

* That the renovation works is the only major works so far carried out on the buildings within the premises since 2015;

* That two separate fire incidents had earlier occurred at House 1 and House 5 of the 8 (eight) Duplexes at the VVIP Guest House, prior to the incident of Tuesday, 21st February, 2017. This necessitated the extensive renovation and electrical maintenance works;

* That the State Fire Service was always on hand to put out the fire on each occasion, while the Minis.try of Energy was duly notified of the fire incidents; and

* That the Contractor is yet to be paid for the job it executed.

The Nigeria Civil Society Desk has also verified this claim with the Ministry of Housing which supervised and issued Certificate of Job Completion. 

As the Accounting Officer of the Directorate of Government House and Protocol, Asaba, one of the responsibilities of the Permanent Secretary is to author memos to His Excellency, the Governor, on matters as considered necessary. In this case, the Permanent Secretary forwarded a memo for the renovation works based on a Bill of Quantities (BOQ) received from the Ministry of Housing..

As an investigative journalist, Mr. Idemude Amour should have exhausted all means of exhuming his facts before they are reported, bearing in mind the implications of his false reportage on the person of Mr. Ogidi-Gbegbaje.

We are therefore constrained to ask Mr. Idemude Amour to visit the Ministry of Housing which supervised the renovation works in 2017 to find out the extent of works at the VVIP Guest House. He should also visit the Ministry of Energy, possibly to confirm if reports of fire incidents at the VVIP Guest House were made by the Directorate. Mr. Idemude Amour can also corroborate the report he would get from the Ministry of Energy, by visiting the State Fire Service. 

Having said these, will it be appropriate to state that the buildings which were destroyed by fire were only painted, and could possibly be ideal to accommodate personalities like the Commander, 63 Brigade, the State Commissioner of Police and other top Government Functionaries?

Mr. Idemude Amour, you know too well that we must be guided by conscience in all we do, as whatever we give so also we shall receive. Conscience is like an open wound, it is only truth that can heal it. You owe all men a duty of care.

Our advice to Mr. Idemude Amour would be that he should carry out due diligence of his claims and let the world know his findings.

NBET: Foreign Account And Companies Used For Siphoning Government Funds Linked To Marilyn Amobi, MD/CEO Of NBET

New evidence has surfaced showing that the embattled MD/CEO of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET), Dr. Marilyn Amobi, has continued to enrich herself in flagrant disregard for public service rules and in defiance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption stance.

Documents exclusively obtained from UK showed that Dr. Amobi is the current Director and Major Shareholder in ESL Economics and Management Associates Ltd registered in both Nigeria and London with RC Number 1025108 (751030) and 06413894 respectively.

Her business partner is Prof. Eric Reiner Larsen, a lecturer at Aarhus University and Amobi’s former project supervisor. Marilyn Amobi approved the accounts and signed for the financial years ended 31st October 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 for ESL Economics and Management Associates Ltd, London.

The last one was signed by her on the 5th of November 2019 which explained the capital flight rationale where she transferred 90,000 British Pounds (approx. N49 million naira) from her account number ODA 0003652593 with Stanbic IBTC Bank to her British Pound Sterling’s account in London in 2018.

Dr. Amobi, in collusion with her business partner Prof. Larsen, looted monies allotted for capacity building in the power sector through a private arrangement with Dr Amobi and channeled it through Aarhus University Denmark (where Larsen holds other appointments).

The contract was executed by Jacob Kjaer Eskildsen and Dr Amobi in November 2017. Using her position as MD/CEO of NBET, Dr. Amobi commandeered the resources and pushed her staff on a futile learning expedition to Denmark in more than four batches, with the first batch costing $50,747.66 (USD) which is approximately N22 million naira for a batch without a formal procurement process and in total disregard to the embargo on foreign training.

Dr. Amobi is on a fast track to empty the treasury of the power sector fund. Her insatiable taste for ill-gotten wealth is bewildering. Most shocking is the audacity of impunity and brigandage brazenly she perpetrates at NBET.

A neophyte in the Nigerian Power Sector, the appointment of Dr. Amobi as MD/CEO in the Buhari Administration is a huge mistake that could have been avoided if her academic, leadership and mental state were properly scrutinized. Dr. Amobi has no record of performance in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) prior to her appointment in NBET.

Infact her patronage of the sector was through the peddling of classroom courses for her private consulting business (ESL Economics and Management Associates Ltd). A copy of her resume made available to us shows that she had a one-year stint with BC Hydro & Power Authority Vancouver in 2009, and another one-year stint with Hydro One Networks Toronto in 2006; all her years from 1999 till her appointment in NBET was either schooling or selling courses for ESL private consulting firm.

With just two years of functional experience, she clearly lacks leadership and teamwork skills. It’s no surprise that she turns the office premises to a battle ground with her staff, thus creating a system where alternate views are squashed, while flattery and servility are rewarded. Dr. Amobi has created a monstrous culture at NBET, where staff speak in hush tones because they are being recorded at work and a possibility that their private lines are tapped.

In a case against her staff, when Dr. Amobi arrived at the DSS (Department of State Security) Office, she tendered a USB of private conversations of her staff. Interestingly, the DSS failed to inquire from Dr. Amobi the source of her recordings, thus letting her off so easily without a charge for breaching staff privacy and abuse of power.

The mental health of Marilyn Amobi is also a huge concern to all. In recent times she has continued to display fits of aggression and excessive shouting during meetings with staff and other stakeholders. Recently, she was petitioned for threatening physical bodily harm to one of her management staff, but for the timely intervention of those present, it would have been a different story or maybe a possible homicide.

Dr. Amobi is cognitively wired to understand only the language of subservience, where no staff or appointee can express an alternate view. She only sees across two divides where her staff are either acolytes or enemies, thus running an oppressive administration where she clamps down on perceived enemies, rendering her staff redundant and firing them for standing and speaking the truth.

Dr. Marilyn Amobi has looted and wasted public funds to hold on to power at all costs including plunging the Nigerian Power Sector into more crises, debts and darkness. Her highest investment costs aside the illegal procurement of cars (which is distributed as gifts to allies) is her media and legal representation costs where she attempts to push forward her claim to integrity.

Dr. Amobi is dangerously power-hungry and is ready to trample on anything on her path for a renewed season of thievery at NBET.She has issued threats to various media organizations and civil society organizations, threatening them with litigations for libel and defamation of character.

Dr. Amobi is as unfortunately intriguing as she is laughable. She threatens in the morning but comes around at night to beg for forgiveness. It is important to note that the embattled MD/CEO has either lost all her cases or have them thrown out for lack of merit despite her public bravado.

The entire value chain in the power sector has severally raised their voices on the atrocities and high-handedness being perpetrated by Dr Amobi, but the administration of President Buhari has no immediate solution because of the powers who shared the loot with her. Now is the time for this administration whose mantra is war against corruption to suspend and prosecute Dr. Amobi.

NIRSAL: Aliyu Abdulhameed Deserves Award, Commendation Not Sack - CCAC

Aliyu Abdulhameed

......Says is a great Asset to President Buhari’s administration Agricultural Policy.

A CSO known as the Citizens Communication and Advocacy Centre (CCAC) has thrown her support behind Mr. Aliyu Abdulhameed, Managing Director of Nigerian Incentive -based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and condemned in strong term the negative narrative publications in various National Newspapers and some online news platforms by some vested interests who are very bitter for losing out in their criminal franchise of fleecing the country of Billions of Naira in Foreign Exchange, in the name of Food and other Agricultural Products importation due the Revolutionary Agricultural Policy of Government, ably Facilitated by NIRSAL under the able Leadership of Mr.Aliyu Abdulhameed with oversight from CBN.

CCAC has equally condemned the desperation of this entities, in their despicable attempt to using disgruntled Workers of NIRSAL to spread Falsehood and compromised vital official Secrets and information.

This is unacceptable and no decent Corporate organizations worth it name, with sound Corporate Governance would allowed such shenanigans.

In a press release on Sunday, 8th June, 2020 signed by its Executive Director, Lord Charles Ibiang, he said that the mountains of allegations of corruption to the tune of 75 billion; the 5.4 billion Wheat Project in Jigawa; 4.2 billion Personnel Cost including various sundry allegations like running a nepotistic and clannish enterprise are not only wicked, but preposterous, baseless and reinforced Ignorance taken too Far, because the way NIRSAL structured it's operation is difficult for such monumental and bogus amount to be stolen by an Individual no matter his position and Authority.

It will be recalled that NIRSAL was launched in 2011 and Incorporated 2013 by CBN and set up as a Rubust, Innovative and holistic USD 500 millions dollars Public-Private Initiative to catalyse the Flows of Finance and Investments in Fixed Agricultural Value Chain.

Infact it was given impetus and properly establish by President Muhammadu Buhari 2015.

Acording to its establishing Laws, the CBN is the Head of the Board of NIRSAL and Quarterly Board Meeting is structured for it effective Operational and Administrative Management.

How can an individual steal 75 billion in such a very structured Organizations with all the enabling Corporate Governance mechanism? The CSO wondered.

The CCAC Executive Director said the NIRSAL, under Mr.Aliyu, has grown from a small organization of less than 7 people to now one of the best corporate entity in Nigeria, that has given real time interpretation of President Buhari Agricultural Policy by Faciliting a 100billion in Finance and Investments in the Agricultural Value Chain from it inception.

This is unprecedented in Nigeria history and deserved Commendation from Every Nigerias instead of spurious allegations. NIRSAL has performed credibly well.

Lord Charles Ibiang used the opportunity to call on CBN not to be blackmailed into eemoval of Mr.Aliyu, exposing NIRSAL to Political scheming of instability and Leadership turnover.

He also admonish and call on Media & Civil Society Organizations that serve as Citizen's Protectors to always carry out extensive study of issues concerning a State of affairs before commenting, so as not to misinform the Citizens by destroying the Reputation of Professionals who want to help by serving as Public Officers.

“Let us join hands and support an achiever to succeed and reformed the Nigerian Agricultural Sector value Chain characterizes by its primitive and opaque nature, the statement concluded.