Uneasy lies the head of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, at this critical time. Critics and perceived political foes have beamed a searchlight on his ministry and passed a vote of no confidence on him. Since the minister has political ambition, his associates said the criticisms are meant to ridicule him and abort his calculations, ahead of 2015. But for the minister, there is no weariness of the body and heart, despite the attacks.
“The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is on course in bringing development to the Niger Delta. We are completing the East/West Road by December 2013. We are working on other 11 critical roads in the Niger Delta and we also have nine erosion projects going on”, Orubebe told reporters in Lagos.
The minister has been under attack for allegedly awarding N99 billion contract. He was alleged to have inflated one of them from N1b to N12b. Critics also said that he acquired lands in Abuja and put up mansions on them. According to them, a company, Centraco, built one of the mansions for him. Others said that the politician is arrogant and haughty. When these allegations were reported by the media, Orubebe’s friends and associates bombarded him with phone calls.
Since he entered politics in 1987, when he became a councillor, the minister has not experienced that volley of criticisms. Although he may have passed through some storm and stress as Director of Primary Education Board In Delta State, Special Adviser to the governor on Regional Planning and urban Development, and Minister of Special Duties and National Planning, this present assignment is more challenging. To Orubebe, these unfounded allegations are capable of scaring experienced and knowledgeable people from politics because they may not want their names to be dragged in the mud. “There have been a lot of negative stories about me in the media. When I reflect on how I have survived in the government, I regard it as a price to pay”, he said.
The minister denied all the allegations with explanations backed by evidence. He said only N6b contract was awarded by his ministry, pointing out that N909m, and not N99 was paid. he also said that the ministry still owes N1.2b to three contractors.
Orubebe shed light on the land he had acquired. He said he applied as a matter of right, like any other Nigerian, and paid the required fees. He denied erecting mansions on the land, stressing that no company has erected any structure for him on the land. He said, although the media has the duty of holding government officials accountable, they should not promote rumours that are spread maliciously to damage their reputation.
The minister said he is passionate about the Niger Delta, contrary to the insinuation that he has performed poorly as minister responsible for the nine states. He recalled that, as minister of special duties, he had sold to the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua, the idea of going to the creeks to discuss with the authentic militants, not the commercial militants. He said he succeeded in arranging the meeting, which held at Campolo’s camp. “Against security advice, the Vice President then, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan also visited the creeks to address over 2,000 militants. It was the beginning of the amnesty programme. Oil production increased. We took a risk then. Nobody is making reference to that again”, he said.
Critics have alleged that, under Orubebe, the East/West road has become a dream impossible. The minister disagreed, saying that the project has reached 53 percent completion. He lamented that Nigerians are not conversant with the method of releasing money for projects, following budgetary announcement. “The East/West road project was awarded in 2006 by President Obasanjo at N238b, following pressures by Niger Delta people that something must be done. We needed between N30b and N32 billion for mobilisation, but government released N1.2 b.
“It would require one year for the design to be done, but contractors only came up with a baseline survey. When I became Minister of Niger Delta, we had to start all over again. Now, 36 out of 42 bridges and 756 out of 786 culverts have completed. It is 53 percent done. By December 2014, we will complete the project. Some contractors even said that they would deliver their parts of the project in may 2014”, he added.
Niger Deltans have complained that flood has destroyed part of the road. Orubebe, who acknowledged the damage, said contractors are back on site. He disclosed that N120b has been earmarked for the road project. He said N70 billion would come from the federal government and N40b may be borrowed. Orubebe thanked President Jonathan for this kind gesture.
“We are passionate about the Niger Delta and East/West Road. In addition, the ministry is setting up nine skill centres in the area. Three will be completed this year in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Youths would be trained in oil, gas and tourism. Each centre will admit 500 youths at a time. It has boarding facilities. Consultants will run them.
“We are working on the other 11 critical roads in the Niger Delta and nine erosion projects. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the setting up of the Council for Niger Delta Development to meet once in a year. The Integrated Infrastructural Development Programme has already been developed. It will survive many governments to come. the NDDC Master Plan was put in place as a phylosophy and guide. It was funded by the UNDP. We have worked on the environmental mapping system. Even, if we leave, the people coming on board will work on the framework”, he stressed.
Orubebe, in a voice laced with emotion, denied the allegation of corruption, ineptitude and arrogance. He said, as a church elder who also preach the word of God, he cannot engage in any act that would bring shame to the church. The minister explained that, with the procurement law in place, no minister can inflate a contract. “We only send proposals to the Bureau of Public Procurement for analysis and approval. The ministry must get a certificate of no objection to the FEC. The FEC awards the contracts”, he said.
