Ndokwa youths disagree over plan to recall Osanebi

Youths of Ndokwa ethnic nationality in Delta State are at loggerheads over the plan by a group, Coalition of Ndokwa Youth Leaders, led by Mr. Alex Agha to recall the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Friday Osanebi over allegations of non performance and diversion of money.

The coalition alleged that the lawmaker had since 2011 been collecting security money of N20 million monthly totaling N1.4 billion, meant for Ndokwa youths from the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC without remitting to the youths.

Counter-plot

However, clan/community youth presidents and chairmen from 36 clans in Ndokwa nation at a meeting, last Thursday, condemned the plan of the coalition to tarnish the image of Hon Osanebi. They dissociated themselves from the “nefarious activities of the self-styled coalition of Ndokwa youths, which tended to create hostility and security alarm in Ndokwa nation.”

The youths in a motion moved by Comrade Emma Obaah and seconded by Comrade Sam Olise, passed a vote of confidence in Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon Osanebi for their interest in youth development, especially the empowerment of youths by the present administration through Operation Feed your Neighbor, OFN.

 They endorsed the new policy of disbursing dividends of democracy and in particular proceeds of OFN directly through clan presidents and community youth chairs. They also agreed to come under one umbrella and elect a single leadership from all youth groups in Ndokwa nation that will be formidable and truly representative of their goals and aspirations.

No going back

Agha, who said there was not going back in the move, pointed out that the coalition was the umbrella body of Ndokwa youths, adding that some persons want to mislead the youths from the issue at stake He said the issue was that some people had been collecting N20 million from DESOPADEC monthly from 2011 until date, which amounted to N1.4 billion in the name of Ndokwa youths without any reference to the youths.

“The N20 million monthly from DESOPADEC is for the purpose of empowering youths of Ndokwa land as a way of ensuring peace and security in the oil-rich area,” he said. Agha maintained that he confirmed from DESOPADEC that Ndokwa nation had been collecting its money monthly since 2011, but nobody informed the youths. He said that he confronted a former Commissioner from Ndokwa nation over the matter, who confirmed that he and particular politician were sharing the money.

We’ll petition EFCC

“I have told him that he has to vomit what he has stolen because we are going to forward a petition to the EFCC regarding the fraud, “Agha told Niger Delta Voice. His words: “The Itsekiri youth, the Ijaw youth, the Urhobo youth, Isoko youth collect their money from DESOPADEC monthly and recently, the Urhobo youths carried a protest to DESOPADEC and they resolved amicably on how to collect this money, but for that of Ndokwa, we do not know.” “Why is the case of N20 million for Ndokwa shrouded in mystery.

I collected no money— Osanebi

In a statement made available to Niger Delta Voice, Mr. Michael Nwabueze, Press Secretary to Osanebi, said, “We watched with indignation and studied silence series of spurious and libelous allegations against Osanebi by Coalition of Ndokwa Youths, until one Alex Agha who claims to be the leader of the group addressed newsmen in Asaba on November 19, 2015.”

“It is not true and not possible for Osanebi to have collected or be collecting N20 million to or any sum of money meant for youth security when there is a Ministry or Directorate ( with Commissioner) charged with Youths Development in the state. “All the money meant for youth security in the last administration was received and managed by the Directorate of Youth Development headed by Mr. Ebifa Ijomah, who was a commissioner in that ministry,” he said.

Dismisses recall plan

Osanebi, who laughed off the plan to recall him, said the reporter should ask Agha, who is spearheading the campaign if he has a voter’s card, which is a basic requirement for such a venture. He said Agha was at a meeting, which he convened to unity the youth organizations in the state and wondered why he was playing double standard.

 Osanebi said his crime was that he insisted that it would no longer be business as usual and that those who claim to be national youth leaders of Ndokwa should subject themselves to an electoral process and authorization of their community/clan youth leaders.