On-okowa-extols-delta-ssg-chiedu-ebie-at-49-and-the-allegation-of-ebies-wastes-of-n1-3-billion-on-none-existing-ngos-cbos-and-fbos-from-public-coffers-as-he-eyes-deputy-governor-slot
September 7, 2020 | News
ON OKOWA EXTOLS DELTA SSG, CHIEDU EBIE AT 49, AND THE ALLEGATION OF EBIE’S WASTES OF N1.3 BILLION ON NONE EXISTING NGOS, CBOS AND FBOS FROM PUBLIC COFFERS AS HE EYES DEPUTY GOVERNOR SLOT
With regards to the subject matter as reported recently online, if the allegation is true, and the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is turning a blind eye to this, then it evidently means and suggests that Delta State is still being sold for penny and kobo in the hands of power-drunk Delta State Politicians. And there is need for well-meaning Deltans to wake up from their slumber to condemn these happenings, and do whatever it takes to spoil their devious plans, which are often against the interests of the masses.
According to the online reports, “various approved documents in hundreds from the Office of the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr. Chiedu Ebie has unearthed avoidable corrupt practices by the number three man in the State Executive Council. Chiedu Ebie who recently marked his birthday, may have allegedly used his ‘official biro’ to plunder the State into more debt with most approved funds going to people and places that have no business accessing public funds. According to the said documents, Mr. Ebie, as SSG, has allegedly spent a whopping N1.35 billion in just one year on NGOs that were hurriedly formed by political groups to milk the State with alleged connivance from the SSG office who has never done checks to authenticate if they exist. Community Based Organisations (CBOs) were also beneficiaries of this slush funds as well as Faith Based Organizations (FBOs). A total of 46 of those groups whose lists were said to have been sighted in Ebie’s office, do not exist anywhere. But came just for that day assigned to them to get their share of the generous SSG approving biro. Sources in the SSG office alleged that it is also a way of Ebie allegedly siphoning money by doling out public funds to fictitious groups, who are mainly political pressure groups known to him, to begin piling up his financial war chest in his bid to become the Deputy Governor to an Urhobo Governor in 2023, which he is been prepared for.”
Whatever the case may be, these are very weighty allegations that should not be swept under the carpet. As we all know, there is no smoke without fire, and there are obvious elements of truths to the said allegations, which urgently needs to be cleared. Sadly, those in the Delta State Government space are “all birds of the same feathers.” Mind you, this is the same Mr. Chiedu Ebie, whom the Delta State Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, recently congratulated and sang his praises, as the Secretary to the State Government, when he clocked 49 years. In fact, Governor Ifeanyi said that Ebie, a former Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, “was an illustrious Deltan, who was ever committed to the good governance, growth and development of Delta.” This was made known in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba. The Governor even thanked Ebie for his supposed ‘outstanding contributions to governance in Delta State’ as Secretary to the State Government. What exactly are the contributions the said SSG has made towards the development of the State? One then begins to wonder how the said Ebie and his master, Okowa, are obviously taking Deltans as fools, with the way they have been going about the governance of the State.
The online reports also noted that, “with N1.35 billion down the drain, documents proved that Ebie used 69.39% of his 2019 budget out of N1.9 billion, which was initially budgeted.” And they noted that it could have been more, as they could not ascertain if Ebie doled out more money in the month of November and December 2019, as they are yet to sort out names of groups and individuals that his office paid in both months. “Surprisingly, the money to the groups topped his budget in 2019, meaning he was just in the office to sign out funds for a whole year and receiving visitors who brought nothing to Delta State Government and development.
“What can N1.35 billion do? With the money given to the NGOs and others, the sum of N1.35 could have brought the abandoned Warri Stadium back to life as well as renovate 3000 dilapidated public primary and secondary schools in the state with equipped library in each of them. The sum can also complete the long overdue Okpanam road that is begging for completion, as well as pay scholarships for over 5000 Deltans to go to foreign countries to learn ICT courses. When contacted on phone, Mr. Ebie who is one of former Governor James Ibori’s boys, through which he got the SSG position, denied spending such staggering amount of money on NGOs, even though he admitted in the document to have signed away such.”
This amount of public funds that is allegedly being wasted, is enough to expand and upgrade the all-important Osubi Airstrip near Warri, Delta State, to an International Standard Airport. It is therefore sad and painful that these people will continue with this evil for another four years, since Governor Okowa has won his election petition matter at the Supreme Court recently. Sonner or later, they will all start their usual mockery and fake Thanksgiving for supposedly winning an election that was obviously bought over with State’s resources with the alleged collusion/cooperation by INEC Officials and the Judiciary. I really pity Delta State. It is well.
Truth be told, Delta State is still in the hands of greedy politicians whose trade and stock, is to pilfer the State’s public funds from any/every available angle they can come up with. At the end of the day, they are getting richer to the detriment and poverty of the people in the State. When will all of this end? When will our people become courageous enough to shame these ‘public officers-turned-public Masters’, regardless of whether they are our brothers/sisters/kinsmen/tribesmen/political party affiliates or not? When are we going to wake up and muster the boldness to chase these ‘decorated self-centered politicians’ out of Delta State Government’s space? How long are we going to sit back and allow these people waste Delta State money meant to develop the State, on frivolous political power tussles and hustles? Whereas, the common masses are left hungry and poor daily due to the gross lack of basic public amenities. It is really a shame!
Zik Gbemre.
January 8, 2020
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
With regards to the subject matter as reported recently online, if the allegation is true, and the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is turning a blind eye to this, then it evidently means and suggests that Delta State is still being sold for penny and kobo in the hands of power-drunk Delta State Politicians. And there is need for well-meaning Deltans to wake up from their slumber to condemn these happenings, and do whatever it takes to spoil their devious plans, which are often against the interests of the masses.
According to the online reports, “various approved documents in hundreds from the Office of the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr. Chiedu Ebie has unearthed avoidable corrupt practices by the number three man in the State Executive Council. Chiedu Ebie who recently marked his birthday, may have allegedly used his ‘official biro’ to plunder the State into more debt with most approved funds going to people and places that have no business accessing public funds. According to the said documents, Mr. Ebie, as SSG, has allegedly spent a whopping N1.35 billion in just one year on NGOs that were hurriedly formed by political groups to milk the State with alleged connivance from the SSG office who has never done checks to authenticate if they exist. Community Based Organisations (CBOs) were also beneficiaries of this slush funds as well as Faith Based Organizations (FBOs). A total of 46 of those groups whose lists were said to have been sighted in Ebie’s office, do not exist anywhere. But came just for that day assigned to them to get their share of the generous SSG approving biro. Sources in the SSG office alleged that it is also a way of Ebie allegedly siphoning money by doling out public funds to fictitious groups, who are mainly political pressure groups known to him, to begin piling up his financial war chest in his bid to become the Deputy Governor to an Urhobo Governor in 2023, which he is been prepared for.”
Whatever the case may be, these are very weighty allegations that should not be swept under the carpet. As we all know, there is no smoke without fire, and there are obvious elements of truths to the said allegations, which urgently needs to be cleared. Sadly, those in the Delta State Government space are “all birds of the same feathers.” Mind you, this is the same Mr. Chiedu Ebie, whom the Delta State Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, recently congratulated and sang his praises, as the Secretary to the State Government, when he clocked 49 years. In fact, Governor Ifeanyi said that Ebie, a former Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, “was an illustrious Deltan, who was ever committed to the good governance, growth and development of Delta.” This was made known in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba. The Governor even thanked Ebie for his supposed ‘outstanding contributions to governance in Delta State’ as Secretary to the State Government. What exactly are the contributions the said SSG has made towards the development of the State? One then begins to wonder how the said Ebie and his master, Okowa, are obviously taking Deltans as fools, with the way they have been going about the governance of the State.
The online reports also noted that, “with N1.35 billion down the drain, documents proved that Ebie used 69.39% of his 2019 budget out of N1.9 billion, which was initially budgeted.” And they noted that it could have been more, as they could not ascertain if Ebie doled out more money in the month of November and December 2019, as they are yet to sort out names of groups and individuals that his office paid in both months. “Surprisingly, the money to the groups topped his budget in 2019, meaning he was just in the office to sign out funds for a whole year and receiving visitors who brought nothing to Delta State Government and development.
“What can N1.35 billion do? With the money given to the NGOs and others, the sum of N1.35 could have brought the abandoned Warri Stadium back to life as well as renovate 3000 dilapidated public primary and secondary schools in the state with equipped library in each of them. The sum can also complete the long overdue Okpanam road that is begging for completion, as well as pay scholarships for over 5000 Deltans to go to foreign countries to learn ICT courses. When contacted on phone, Mr. Ebie who is one of former Governor James Ibori’s boys, through which he got the SSG position, denied spending such staggering amount of money on NGOs, even though he admitted in the document to have signed away such.”
This amount of public funds that is allegedly being wasted, is enough to expand and upgrade the all-important Osubi Airstrip near Warri, Delta State, to an International Standard Airport. It is therefore sad and painful that these people will continue with this evil for another four years, since Governor Okowa has won his election petition matter at the Supreme Court recently. Sonner or later, they will all start their usual mockery and fake Thanksgiving for supposedly winning an election that was obviously bought over with State’s resources with the alleged collusion/cooperation by INEC Officials and the Judiciary. I really pity Delta State. It is well.
Truth be told, Delta State is still in the hands of greedy politicians whose trade and stock, is to pilfer the State’s public funds from any/every available angle they can come up with. At the end of the day, they are getting richer to the detriment and poverty of the people in the State. When will all of this end? When will our people become courageous enough to shame these ‘public officers-turned-public Masters’, regardless of whether they are our brothers/sisters/kinsmen/tribesmen/political party affiliates or not? When are we going to wake up and muster the boldness to chase these ‘decorated self-centered politicians’ out of Delta State Government’s space? How long are we going to sit back and allow these people waste Delta State money meant to develop the State, on frivolous political power tussles and hustles? Whereas, the common masses are left hungry and poor daily due to the gross lack of basic public amenities. It is really a shame!
Zik Gbemre.
January 8, 2020
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes