𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓
OFFICE OF THE NIGER-DELTA PROGRESSIVE YOUTHS LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION (NDPYLF)
𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐋𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞
Let it be on record that I have been a consistent advocate for justice and fairness among our people long before now.
I can never work against my brother and boss, 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐃𝐫. 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐮 𝐎𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐨, Administrator of the 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 (𝐏𝐀𝐏). He remains my candidate — the one I supported wholeheartedly. I desire his success more than anyone who has ever occupied that office, and I will continue to support him to succeed.
I am part of his victory in the PAP Office and will never deny it. When I was moving from place to place mobilizing support for my brother, many of those now criticizing me were nowhere to be found.
𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞
I have faced much persecution because I firmly believe that unity of purpose will help us achieve greater progress as a people.
Let it be known to those uninformed elements parading themselves on this blue app — who refuse to understand constructive engagement and the value of meaningful discussion — that my actions have always been guided by the interest of our people.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐊𝐮𝐤𝐮’𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐞
When 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐊𝐮𝐤𝐮 served as Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the PAP, I made significant contributions that led to positive transformations in the programme.
As 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 (𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫) at Lead City University, Novena University, and Igbinedion University (2011–2015), my team and I achieved notable results.
Through our advocacy, the 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬’ 𝐢𝐧-𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 was increased from ₦25,000 to ₦50,000 and later to ₦70,000, with an additional ₦𝟒𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. To date, this ₦70,000 allowance continues to benefit our brothers and sisters — a legacy of our contribution.
We also stopped the use of 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬 for deploying students to local universities after exposing fraudulent fee inflation by contractors. I proposed direct engagement with university management, which Hon. Kuku approved. That single reform still saves the PAP Office millions today — another mark of my contribution.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠. 𝐆𝐞𝐧. 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐡 (𝐑𝐭𝐝.)
After Hon. Kuku’s exit, 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐡 (𝐑𝐭𝐝.) became Coordinator of the PAP. When the office withheld 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧-𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 for the 2011–2015 batch, I led a 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 from Lead City, Novena, and Igbinedion Universities to demand justice.
After several engagements, Brig. Gen. Boroh approved the release of ₦210,000 for all affected graduates. That victory opened the door for my employment in the 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞.
Later, I successfully advocated for the employment of 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐀𝐏 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 and 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐍𝐘𝐒𝐂 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 who served in the office. Again, it was part of my ongoing effort to empower our people.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐤𝐮𝐛𝐨
When 𝑳𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇. 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑫𝒐𝒌𝒖𝒃𝒐 took over, all genuine beneficiaries employed by Brig. Gen. Boroh were 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝. I stood my ground and fought tirelessly against the injustice, leading efforts that reinstated many who were wrongfully removed.
When Prof. Dokubo delayed payments to Amnesty students, I 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 and joined others in 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 until the outstanding stipends were released. This, too, was part of my contribution.
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐥. 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐱𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐨 (𝐑𝐭𝐝.)
Under 𝐂𝐨𝐥. 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐱𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐨 (𝐑𝐭𝐝.), I worked closely with 𝐀𝐥𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐍𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐚, Head of Reintegration, to tackle the problem of stipend delays.
We advised the Interim Administrator to fix a 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 for beneficiaries. Together, we proposed the 𝟐𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡, which Col. Dikio approved — and since then, PAP beneficiaries have received their stipends regularly. That reform remains a key part of my legacy.
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐧. 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐍𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐮’𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
When 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐍𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐮 (𝐑𝐭𝐝.) assumed office, he initially considered ending the PAP within six months under a directive from the 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 (𝐍𝐒𝐀).
I met his Technical Adviser, 𝐌𝐫. 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐀., and expressed deep concern. He encouraged me to speak directly with the Administrator. By divine grace, I was granted an audience with Maj. Gen. Ndiomu.
During the meeting, I introduced myself as the 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝑰𝒀𝑪 𝑨𝒃𝒖𝒋𝒂/𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂 and staff of the 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. I respectfully told him:
“Sir, this plan to end the PAP within six months will create unrest in the Niger Delta. You must consult widely before making such a decision.”
He listened attentively and requested to meet the 𝐈𝐘𝐂 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭. I immediately contacted 𝐌𝐫. 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐠𝐛𝐢𝐟𝐚, who flew to Abuja, and together we met with the Administrator.
Mr. Igbifa boldly stated:
“Sir, you cannot end the PAP abruptly. Doing so will threaten the peace and stability of the Niger Delta.”
As a result, Maj. Gen. Ndiomu directed Mr. Terry to prepare a 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 with Niger Delta stakeholders — another clear impact of my advocacy.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟
I have taken bullets for our people without complaint. We must all learn to 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐬 of our brothers and sisters.
To those questioning my integrity, I say this: 𝐆𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐈 𝐚𝐦. I fear no one, but I respect all — their opinions and their dignity.
I believe that what truly matters is not the office one holds but the 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 one creates in the lives of others. Offices come and go, but legacy remains forever
𝐀 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
When you speak of the 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗺𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲, I am one of those success stories — from the 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒅𝒐𝒈 𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒑, through 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐃𝐃𝐑), as a 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟, and later Head of Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution, and Stakeholders’ Management Department (PAP).
𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Let us love one another. Let us continue to engage constructively, doing what is right and just at the right time.
We rise for a purpose.
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝:
𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭, 𝐀𝐦𝐛. 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐦 𝐄. 𝐎. 𝐎. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨
National President/CEO,
Niger Delta Progressive Youths’ Leadership Foundation (ND-PYLF)
a.k.a: The Voice of the Voiceless
