NDDC Boosts Police Morale: Donates Housing Units Named After President Buhari

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has, in pursuant to its corporate social responsibility, boosted the wanning morale of the Nigeria Police Force, with the donation of housing units to the Special Protection Unit of the Police.

The project, renamed President Muhammadu Buhari Nigeria Police (Special Protection Unit) Bade 6 Barracks, is located at Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, comprises of 68 standard blocks of flats. This is in addition to features such as gate house, Admin Building and Commandant Quarters, among others.

While speaking to journalists in his office in Abuja recently, the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, announced that the project would be commissioned by President Buhari this Tuesday.

The Hon Minister expressed appreciation to Mr. President for seeing to the eventual completion of this all-important project after 7 years it was abandoned.

The Hon Minister stated that President Buhari's special interest in the project was anchored on the president's commitment to boost the work of the Nigeria Police Force in the Niger Delta, as well as efforts at facilitating sustainable regional development.

While reassuring the people that the new NDDC is renewing the confidence of Niger Deltans in Government's seriousness to bring development to the communities, the Minister expressed the hope that the project would boost the morale of the Nigeria Police Force in the maintenance of law and order in the society.

It would be recalled that following deafening outcries of people of Niger Delta, over the rot in the Niger Delta Development Commission, especially in the areas of non-execution of and abandonment of projects duly awarded to contractors, Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative (CQ), embarked on several quests to situate the veracity or otherwise of the outcries.

The non-governmental organization on the 25th day of July, 2019 visited the project site. With the physical assessment of the state of the abandoned project, Citizens Quest, articulated and used it's broad media platforms to call the attention of the federal government to the deplorable state of the project.

Reacting to the news of the completion and planned official commissioning of the project, the founder/President of Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative, Chief Obiaruko Ndukwe, thanked the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for following through his assurance to the CQ that the project would be given expeditious attention. She also commended the sole Administrator of the Commission, Mr Effiong Akwa, for acting true to power in seeing to the delivery of this project.

#CitizensQuest

#Search4DTruth

#C4Urself

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Act On the Deplorable State of Oyigbo -Afam Road, Group Tasks Concerned Authorities

 

….Describes it as a total neglect

 

Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative, an accountability advocacy Non-Governmental Organization has implored the Rivers State government, the Federal Government, multinational companies, their subsidiaries and all concerned to swiftly and immediately act on the deplorable state of Oyigbo-Afam Road, describing it as total neglect

 

The advocacy group who quoted Abraham Lincoln thus, "To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of mankind” explained that the quote above reminds of the present situation in Oyigbo Local Government area in Rivers State, Nigeria.

 

Citizens Quest in a news report made available to newshounds  in Port Harcourt opined that a local government area with twenty one (21) well inhabitated autonomous communities that hosts many multinationals such as: Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), the renowned Afam Power plant, Genco, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria Gas Company (NGC), Alcon Gas Plant, Daewoo Gas plant, NNPC Gas gathering Plant, Transcorp Power Plant and Cassava Processing Plant Afam of the Rivers State Government should have the best of good road network.

 

According to the group, after the rumoured deplorable state of the access roads that criss crosses the entire Oyigbo LGA, the Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative (CQTI) thought it wise to embark on a See-for-yourself (C4urself) quest to ascertain, first hand, what the true situation is about the roads.

 

“True to it, Citizens Quest was leg-stocked as what greeted them in this very crucial quest was the indescribable state of the roads. The situation can simply be described as BAD” the group bemoand.

 

Text of the report reads: “The Oyigbo-Afam Road led the quest to the popular Kom-Kom road to the railway, at Obeama-Mirinwanyi community. It begins from Umusoya junction and it is a major access for all the multinationals (aforementioned) and other businesses operating in the LGA is not passable.  .

“Residents decried the long neglect by government and wonder why even the companies in the area

cannot effect their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to the people.

 

“In a chat with some residents and motorist/commuters, they lamented that the Government of the day in Rivers State have abandoned Oyigbo to their fate and only those with fleet of SUVs packed with well armed/riot looking Police officers can ply the road whenever they want to have any function in the area.

 

“Some motorist lamented their almost daily visits to their auto-mechanics due to the damages the failed road cause their vehicles.

 

“Some tricycle (popularly known as Keke) operators expressed pains in what they describe as dead traps because of their daily collapse with their passengers into the ditches on the roads.

 

“Commuters say they pay as much as N500  per passsenger on a tricycle (Keke) from the Umusoya junction to Railway/market which is not up to 1 kilometer.

 

“Small scale business owners told the Quest that the neglect has crippled businesses in the area and that has made life unbearable for the people.”

 

It would be recalled that the Federal Government has given approval for the complete reconstruction of Afam Road in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State to Transcorp Group to construct the 13.5km Oyigbo-Izuoma-Mirinwayi-Oklama-Afam Road.

 

#CitizensQuest

#Search4TheTruth

#C4Urself

2023: Eze Commends Jonathan for rejecting the Bite of the Northern Presidency Sour bait

...States that the move is a trick to deny the South her two terms after the two terms of the North through President Buhari

...Describes Plot as an Unacceptable insult on both Jonathan and the entire southern political class

 

Having carefully perused through the series of articles on the deadly scheming of some Northern Leaders to lure former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan into the 2023 Presidential contest, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has said it smacks of deceit for anyone or group to concoct interest over the reemergence of Dr. Jonathan as Nigerian President in 2023.

 

In a statement made available to media houses in Port Harcourt, the party Chief said the scheme is a trick packaged by some Northern leaders in order for Jonathan to be President for one term which would be the completion of the four years remaining of his tenure and retake power come 2027 thereby denying the Southern part of Nigeria a complete term of eight years.

 

Eze said that the Northern schemers knowing very well that with President Buhari successfully completing his second term by 2023, the South, in all honesty and fairness will produce the next President and so to truncate a southern eight-year rule, they intend to feature Jonathan who would reign only four years thus, throwing the 2027 Presidential election open for a fresh zoning arrangement and contest favourably to the North.

 

Eze urges all Nigerians to speak up and condemn such a dastardly act that may plunge this nation into unprecedented chaos.

 

 Eze is consoled by the fact that Jonathan has rejected such a devious plot. I therefore commend him for his foresight, sagacity & wisdom by rejecting the bite of the Northern Presidency sour bait as this is a deadly trick to deny the South her two terms after the two terms of the North through President Buhari. This Plot is an unacceptable insult on both Jonathan and the entire southern political class as if we lack credible political leaders from the South that can turn the fortunes of this country around.

 

He said it is imperative to commend Dr. Jonathan for reading through the deceit of these leaders, trashing their dishonest entreaty and ensuring that his political feats and present status as a great promoter of democracy is not ruined, tarnished but kept intact by keeping these undemocratic elements at bay.

 

“I am very glad that Dr. Jonathan has done his best to keep these undemocratic forces at bay who are hellbent to deny the South  the chance to preside over the affairs of this country according to the terms of power rotation between the North and South, not minding that the Northerners have through the military and Democratic dispensations, governed this country to their heart contents.

 

Funny and sad enough, same leaders who ensured that Dr. Jonathan was not reelected in 2015 are the same crop of leaders that are doing everything to lure him back to finish whatever that  is left of him politically.

 

As much as I am not a supporter or sympathizer of Dr. Jonathan and his type of politics, as I was one of those who saw to him not been reelected, I will not seat and allow his haters drain the little integrity left of him.

 

Luring him to contest the 2023 does not  in any way wash him off the sins and reasons behind why he was not reelected in 2023 but a careful ploy to portray the Southerners as lacking better and credible leaders to improve on the fortunes of the country.”

 

In this vein, the party chieftain commended Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for insisting that he will not support Dr. Jonathan if he decides to contest the 2023 general election, not minding that he was instrumental to his imposition as the Governor of Rivers State.

 

If Wike, who Jonathan did everything to impose on the good people of Rivers State could reject him, Eze said he is very much convinced that if he succeeds to allow himself to be fooled by those luring him, the worse political defeat awaits him come 2023.

 

Eze counseled Jonathan to continually read in between the lines and avoid the deadly bait that will make both the North and South politicians to derign him further.

 

Eze further highlighted that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who based on his Democratic feats earned through his handing over power peacefully to the incumbent President in 2015 unlike most African Leaders shouldn't allow any situation that will cause division and tension in the country because of this deadly plot.

 

This 2015 feat has earned him an International figure and he shouldn't allow himself to be rubbished and reduced to a local politician by these politicians that don't mean well for the unity of this country.

 

Eze postulated that Dr. Jonathan while in Mali urged the Malian transitional government to hasten the process of developing an electoral framework and the establishment of the priority actions needed to be taken in order to hold the presidential and legislative elections as scheduled. The Mali election is scheduled for February 2022.

 

Although the Mission appreciated the renewed expression of the transitional authorities to respect the agreed deadline of the transition before the international community, it however noted in its communiqué that it was concerned “about the lack of concrete action in the effective preparation of the electoral process.

NDDC Forensic Report: We need to have a copy of it – Chief Obiaruko

 

….says six trillion is enough to build two Dubais

 

…..expresses dismay over leaders involved in the sleaze

 

…..tells them to “Go and return the money joor”

 

Chief Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe the President of Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative, an accountability advocacy Non Governmental Organization has appealed for the release and accessibility of the NDDC Forensic Report to those who want to have access to it in accordance with the spirit and letter of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

 

Chief Obiaruko who made the appeal on her “Media FBI” Youtube Channel with the headline “Matters arising from the Forensic Report on (NDDC)” said, “The forensic report has come out, the President has received it. He has asked Malami the Minister for Justice to look into it, setup committee and maybe forward the names of the offenders to EFCC, DSS, whatever.”

 

“That is not the issue here we need to get a copy of that report, we need to see what is contained in the report. Who are those that were in the sleaze? Who are those that were involved in under developing the region? That is what we need to find out. We are asking they make it available for us base on the Freedom of Information Act.

 

The media guru who code-switched in the short and straight to the point video clip, stressed that it is not going to be business as usual for any person or group who is involved in the squandering of whopping sum of six trillion naira.

 

According to her, “It’s gonna be a time bomb for those who are part of it, let them know that it is not going to be business as usual. As they gave una six trillion to develop una region, una chop the money die.”

 

She called for efforts towards developing the region as according to her, “something has to be done to ensure that monies meant for development is adequately and judiciously used.”

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2a2MgikB4M

Citizen's Quest, the Emergence and the Polity

 Written by Sukari Alex Owuru

 

Advocacy in black race has not really gotten the best of concern, accolades and support. Basically, it is because, maybe, the understanding about it is low or because to most humans in that race, any and everything should be and addressed with the same gloves used in contemporary politics. In other climes, advocacy groups pose as hope lines for the people and society. Advocacy groups speak for the people, put the government in check, make the government accountable to the people and always walk side by side with the government's result oriented programmes.

 

So, it is not out of place but normal when politicians and those in public offices promote advocacy groups in any society. As a matter of fact, it is even those who are held in stewardship of the people's common wealth that should support advocacy groups for the obvious reasons; one of which is for the PURPOSE OF PEER REVIEW.

 

The Citizen's Quest for Truth Initiative CQTI as an advocacy stands for that and more. Having stated its mission as an ACCOUNTABILITY advocacy group concerned with holding government at all levels accountable for their actions, programmes and policies, CQTI also operates a grand media outfit that not only documents but makes accessible facts known to the public.

 

A convention of persons from all works of life, CQTI holds dear the belief that the outcome of its existence should rob off positively on the masses. That they have successfully carried out and still committed to do.

 

One would wonder why a few wouldn't understand the modus operandi of the Quest but pick up a battle where there really should be none. Those who know what the CQTI have done and is still doing for the people within its area of operation can attest to the fact that advocacy has been given a new face by the group.

 

Why then the antagonisms? Why the unnecessary bickerings? Those fighting her existence fight their friends and allies. Why all the eavesdropping?

 

If advocacy groups support political or social causes, if they make recommendations that create certain changes in government, public policy, society, and/or law, then the CQTI should also be seen as that; knowing that not all beginnings begin at the same speed even though the CQTI runs on an unprecedented one. All humans are political in nature; so are their activities.

 

Advocacy groups, also known as special interest groups, use various forms of advocacy in order to influence public opinion and ultimately policy. They play an important role in the development of political and social systems. Motives for action may be based on political, moral, or commercial positions. Groups use varied methods to try to achieve their aims, including lobbying, media campaigns, awareness raising, publicity stunts, polls, research, and policy briefings. Some groups are supported or backed by powerful business or political interests and exert considerable influence on the political process, while others have few or no such resources.

 

If the CQTI has multi talented young minds taken on advocacy, it should not be supported. It should be praised. It should be encouraged. Especially in a time like this where young counterparts are all over the place with hybrid criminality, the CQ convenes willing and resolute young minds to build an empire where truth advocacy will thrive. Ask me and I'd say the CQTI deserves the support of every good and well meaning citizen of this Country.

 

The CQ is by its advocacy developing young Leaders that will take over the new horizon with a zeal that's second to none.

 

Leadership for the purpose of change has so successfully exemplified the concept of courage. CQ leads the match in that courageous route. Just like the legendary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it was his advocacy that was able to create his legacy as one of the United States’ most prominent civil rights activists.

 

Though, he was fought, he achieved his dream and up till now, his achievements still speak. It will speak still for many generations to come.

 

I have read some query why the CQTI controls an influence in the social media. Here is a report in part of a study released in 2012 which "suggests that advocacy groups of varying political and ideological orientations operating in the United States are using social media to interact with citizens every day. The study surveyed 53 groups that were found to be using a variety of social media technologies to achieve organizational and political goals:

 

Facebook was the social media site of choice with all but one group noting that they use the site to connect with citizens.

 

Twitter was also popular with all but two groups saying that they use Twitter.

 

Other social media being used included YouTube, LinkedIn, wikis, Flickr, Jumo, Diigo, Tumblr, Foursquare, Identi.ca, Picasa, and Vimeo".

 

As noted in the study, "while some groups raised doubts about social media’s ability to overcome the limitations of weak ties and generational gaps, an overwhelming majority of groups see social media as essential to contemporary advocacy work and laud its democratizing function."

 

In my opinion, the latter is game and that's what the Citizen's Quest for Truth Initiative stands for. Let the Quest thrive that we'd all C4ourselves.

 

Sukari Alex Owuru (SMG) is a public relation practitioner base in Port Harcourt