Date Published: 12/20/09

Mr. David Edevbie

The Principal Staff Secretary to the President   15.12.09

Presidential Villa

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Aso Rock Villa

Abuja. 

Dear Sir, 

THREE YEARS, THREE MONTHS OF CONSTANT ATTACK OF MY PERSON, FAMILY AND WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT BY OTUNBA SEGUN RUNSEWE, THE DG NIGERIA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

I write to appeal for your intervention and protection on the attack of my person and family by the Director General (DG), Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) in the person of Otunba Segun Runsewe because of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT which he attempted severally to hijack. 

In the past three years, three months I and my family have on constant attack by Otunba Segun Runsewe. The DG has been after my life and has vowed to destroy me and my entire family, simply because of his failed attempt to hijack WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT. He had requested to buy the project from me but I politely refused to sell the project to him because of several partnerships we had already entered into with some institutions. And again the project could not have been sold to him because of its depth and the involvement and partnership of other institutions and persons. This I tried severally to explain to him and even proposed collaboration with his Agency as directed by his Ministry (Fesderal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation) but he refused. Little did I know that my refusal to sell project to him will later incur condemnation of my person, family and incessant attacks by him. This incidence started during the Abuja Carnival 2006 barely after he became the Director General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation in 2006. Since then till now, he made sure that I do not have peace and the project never sees the light of the day. Even places now I go to seek for job, the DG goes after me to those places to blacklist me, destroy my reputation with the purpose of making sure no one helps me any assistance.  

All these years till date, the DG is doing everything possible to ensure that the project WELCOME2NIGERIA is not seen, held off or implemented by the Federal Ministry of Tourism in partnership with my organization (Stakeholders Communications Ltd). Severally we had wanted to kick start the project campaign, he thwarts all the implementation efforts and processes that will ensure the realization of the objectives of the project which is meant to 7 Point Agenda of Mr. President in the area of Wealth Creation through Public Private Partnership, and also as a support for the attainment of Nigeria’s Vision 2020 through tourism. I do not know the ultimate reasons behind his action other than, his determination to sabotage any good idea that does not emanate from him, especially when such project will contribute to the socio-economy development of the country. 

His incessant attack on my person, my family, members of the project and the project itself for years running is bizarre and frightening, which not only necessitated this petition but for his recent attack on the 23 rd of November against my person in the premise of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) head office with the aim of sabotaging the partnership between NTA international and my company Stakeholders Communications Limited on WELCOME TO NIGERIA TV PROGRAMMES, which has been running on NTA international. His attack on me led to the suspension of the TV programmes by the management of NTA. 

Apart from all his attack on my reputation, my family, business, and friends, he does everything within his might using the position he occupies to wheedle all the project partners to rescind their support and endorsement for the project. Because he fails in all his attempts to succeed in his act, he has started a fresh threat and also visiting prospective sponsors of the project with malicious allegation against me which has lead to many of them to decline support for the project.  
 

How it all started 

Sometime in September 2006 (few months after his appointment), the DG knowingly fully well that the preparation to launch WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT was in top gear, he called me and appealed to me to produce for him some billboards and other above the line publicity materials for the Abuja Carnival 2006, that money has not been released and that he can not afford to fail the media whom he said where coming on a tour to inspect the preparations of the carnival. He vowed to pay me as soon as funds for the Carnival were released. Like it was in the previous year (2005), I did not want to have anything to do with 2006 Carnival job because I was grossly short-paid by him in the jobs I under took. The mistrust made me not to have anything to do with him but as faith will have it I had to oblige his request because of  certain reasons (1), I have an ongoing project ‘WELCOME2NIGERIA’ in the Federal Ministry of Tourism and NTDC (the Agency which he is the DG, (2) the Hon Minister through his SA had already directed that he (the DG) be involve in the planning and execution of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT, including other agencies of the Ministry (3) the DG was enthusiastic about the project initially, although, queried my involving the Minister/Ministry from the onset but promised that I have his 100% support, that after the Carnival, we shall discuss further. 

The DG requested to buy the project: 

During the preparation of the Carnival, way after I had completed the jobs, he started acting funny, trying to avoid me. He sent for me, I met with him in the Abuja Carnival Office, he request that I bring to him all the entire document of  WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT and he gave me the option of give up the project for my money and additional payment for the project. After the 2006 Carnival, he paid virtually all the contractors, but refused to pay me and avoided me totally and in one occasion instructed the security to throw me out of the Carnival office when I request for my money. I was amazed to hear him say he does not owe me. It was then it dawned on me that he had set a trap to corner the project at the expense of the money for the job executed. 

The First Endorsement of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT.  

When the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation endorsed the project and directed NTDC to be part of the Committee to plan, execute and manage the project, the DG was angry about it and swore that he will have nothing to do with the project on the terms of PPP, that it is only NTDC that has the statutory obligation to run the project, not even the Ministry. Collectively, we tried to explain to him the nature of the project and the fact that it does not cover tourism only but has culture and orientation content as well. Instead of being part of the committee to plan and execute the project, the DG went behind to want to run the project, when he was called to order by the Ministry he got angry and started claiming ownership of it and started intimidating me and anyone that has anything to do with the project.

He destroyed all the files and documents of the project in NTDC:-

Little did I know that immediately after the 2006 Abuja Carnival, he destroyed all the files and documents of the project in NTDC relating to WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT and later claiming ownership to the project but unknown to him, I had photocopies of all the documents and memos of the project in his agency (NTDC) dated a year before he was made the DG. When he was called to desist from his embarrassing attitude, he refuted that he has ever seen anything like WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT before that the whole thing about the project was his own idea and that he started it all.  

He budgeted funds to run the project and sought the endorsement of the Office of the Vice President:- 

In 2007, he had successfully budgeted large sums of money to run WELCOMETONIGERIA PROJECT campaign and destroyed all the files and document of the project in NTDC. He massively launched out by printing face caps, ball pens, lapel pins, carrier bags and the beautification of his office with WELCOMETONIGERIA slogans.

He even took the project to the Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan for endorsement, and was shown on NTA network where he was decorating the Vice President with WELCOMETONIGERIA lapel pin. The Vice President promised him that he would look into his request for endorsement and will get back to him.  

His dastardly act angered everyone, including the Ministry who called him to order while my lawyer wrote him to caution him on the legal implication of his actions and attempt to pass-off the project title and infringement on its copyright.

The action of the Ministry calling him to order and the letter from my lawyer infuriated him and he decided to go all out for me, my family and anyone associated with the project. To my amazement, the DG NTDC started claiming ownership of the project. He went out in rage which I strongly believe may have been connected to the several molestation and assault on my person in the streets of Abuja by unknown persons whom I strongly believe are connected to him.  

The DG claimed ownership of the project but when he did not succeed he declared a war against me, my family and any persons that is by any way associated with the project. 

In mid 2007, in the coming of the new government of Umaru Yar’adua, following the swearing in of the new Ministers, the DG declared a war on me on a matter I thought could be resolved amicably. He avoided all treaties to settle the matter so that we can collective with him move on with the project. His fight against me and to take over WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT continued with no limit. When the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, FTAN (which I am a member) went on a courtesy call to the Honourable Minister Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, and Dr Aliyu Idi Hong in 2007 as new Ministers of Tourism Culture and National Orientation, the DG started a fight to prevent FTAN from presenting the project to the Minister for consideration towards it’s implementation on joint partnership with the Ministry. When the Federation was presenting the project to the Minister, the DG who was present in the office of the Minister during the courtesy call flared up and threatened to beat me up in the presence of the two ministers and everyone. He claimed that the project was his that the Minister should not have anything to do with it that myself and FTAN were fraudulent. 

The DG botched the settlement meeting between us:-

His fight and utterances made the Honourable Minister to direct that the matter be peacefully resolved between us. A meeting was held in NTDC and was presided over by the Director of Tourism (then) Mrs. Esther Adeyemi. In the meeting the DG left the substance of discussion and started attacking me. When I requested for the money he owes me he started insulting me and reiterated he does not owe me a dime and also stressed in the meeting that it is only a government Agency that has the right to run such project that I can not stop him from running WELCOMETONIGERIA. The meeting ended up in deadlock because the DG had other game plan. He insisted on launching the campaign of the project but was again called to order; but he refused to hide the Ministry’s advice and went ahead claiming the project as his. His claim of the project went on  until it became a show of embarrassment when I presented to the Honourable Minister of Tourism all the letters of endorsement of the project, not only that, even documents to buttress the existence of the project in NTDC before he was appointed the DG. When he discovered that he was loosing out, he started scheming to influence the Ministry to withdraw the endorsement and support for the project. After attempting several scheming to hijacked WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT and failed, he went berserk.  

I had initiated several meetings for settlement but he avoided appeals for settlement. When I sent him a text message (SMS) to appeal to him to leave me alone and lets come together and implement the project, he edited the text message and started using it to blackmail me.  

His attack on my person and blacklisting me and the project:-

The DG called a meeting of some of the Directors of the Ministry of Tourism and agencies under the Ministry to blacklist me. He started an image-tarnishing campaign of my person, he asked some of the Chief Executives of Agencies that are involve in the project to desist from having anything to do with it. He tried influencing many of them to withdraw the endorsement they have given the project. The DG finally went all out for me marking me as his prime target for destruction. This he has obviously demonstrated in several ways through his numerous actions of intimidation and harassment of my person, malicious slander, personally following up on me and using his boys to get information on my business contacts to destroy my reputation and to cause disaffection between me and my clients or anyone who want to assist me, my family or WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT. I have been molested and assaulted by persons I strongly believe are linked to me him because of the project. 

The DG attempted forging a criminal document against me:-

The DG went to Lagos to financially induce members of FTAN and requested the Secretary General, Mr Charlse Ukumadu to doctor a letter to him reading that I was involve in a fraud in South Africa. Mr Ukumadu knowing the intention of the DG, not only turned down his request politely but also informed the President of the Federation, High Chief Edem Duke, Chief Gordy Ibru (Chairman Board of Trustee) and members of the Exco of FTAN about the DG’s request. The DG’s plan was botched. His failed bid to destroy my credibility publicly by using that letter infuriated him so much that he went on a press war with the Management of FTAN and the Minister of Tourism (Adetokunbo Kayode SAN) whom he (DG) felt was not on his side.  

The Honourable Minister setup a committee to verify his persistent claim of ownership of the project

Some time in 2008, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation (under Prince Adetokunbo Kayode SAN, now Labour Minister) had to set up a Committee headed by the Head of Legal of the Ministry to investigate his claim and allegations of ownership of the project and fraud against my person and Company. The result of that investigation was concluded in my favour and that of my Company – Stakeholders Communications Limited. After tendering all the documents on the project to the committee the DG was advised by the Ministry to desist from embarrassing the government and unnecessary interference and fight to hijack the project. He got angry and started a fresh fight with me and also extended same to the Hon Minister for supporting the project.  

The second endorsement and the inauguration of the Ministerial Working Committee by the Minister anger the DG, and he went about town blackmailing the Committee.

After the conclusion of the ownership investigation of the project the truth was established that Stakeholders Communications Ltd is the true owner of the project. It was based on that the Honourable Minister (Tourism and Culture) inaugurated the Ministerial Working Committee to plan and launch the project. Letters were written from the office of the Honourable Minister to all the members of the Committee. 

The WELCOME2NIGERIA Ministerial Working Committee was constituted on PPP basis and had Members drawn from the three departments of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, NTA, NEPAD and other agencies of government and the organized private sector (including my company). The members of the Committee are as follows; Tourism Department -Mrs Patricia Narai, Orienation Department - Mr. Isa Abdullahi and Culture Department -Mr R.F. Wilcox.

Other members of the Committee are: Dr Ibrahim Tahir (Talban Bauchi - Chairman) Myself :- Mr. Y. I. Isa Yusuf (The Project Coordinator/CEO), Prince Lekan Fadina,  Mr Conel Agim (National Film,Video Censors Board), Mrs Patricia Odiahi (NTA ), Mrs Nkechi Odougwu (NTA), Mrs Paccifine Emmanuel (Assistant Director NEPAD), Mrs Okide Tochukwu (NEPAD), Mr A.O. Jones (MDG’s), Mr Nseobong Ekong (Thisday Newspaper), High Chief Edem Duke (President FTAN)  but was represented by Mr. Arogunmati, Barister Desmond Iyama, Mrs Fadojutimi Kemi. 

With approval from the Honourable Minister other members where later appointed by me to have full representation of the private sector. 

When the DG knew of the inauguration of the Committee he went about town, to the press blackmailing every member of the Committee. He hinged on the point that we are using Federal Government Coat of Arm to defraud people. As a Public Private Partnership initiative endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, FTAN, NEPAD and with the consent of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the DG claimed that all the persons involved in the project are all fraudulent people.    

His attempt to smear the hard-earn reputation and name of two Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a plan to cause them to withdraw institutional support for the project:- 

Knowing that the matter was not going his way, he started another campaign that no one has the right to use WELCOMETONIGERIA and that we are not Government Agency or Ministry. He quarreled that we do not have the authority to use Nigeria in any form, but when he discovered that we had consent from the Attorney General and Minister of Justice on the WELCOME2NIGERIA and full endorsement and support of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, he started a dastard campaign that the project is owned by the Hon. Minister of Justice, Attorney General of the Federation Chief Micheal Oandoka SAN and Prince Adetokunbo Kayode SAN to cause the Ministries to withdraw their consent and endorsement for the project respectively. When he did not succeed, he started sponsoring TV promo with Welcome to Nigeria slogan to water down the ingenuity of the project. 

He went to National Copyright Commission to influence the Commission to withdraw the copyright certificate for the project.

As if that was not enough, he took the fight to National Copy Right Commission requesting that they strip me off the trademark ownership of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT. His request met brick wall because he could not differentiate between content registration and trademark. NCRC statutory obligation covers only content but not title. While his request was that NCRC should withdraw the registration of the name WELCOME2NIGERIA from me. NCRC wrote him to say that tittle name of project or intellectual materials are not their statutory obligation. He failed in yet another bid to ensure that the project registration is withdrawn. 

He granted a World Press Conference to assert that the project is fraudulent, and warned the general public against having anything to do with it. 

After devising various tactics of calumny and failed, the DG, in 2008, granted a world press conference where he alleged that the WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT is fraudulent and it was published by most local news papers but the international media sought after him for further clarification and prove of his claim and dropped the story when the DG could not prove his assertion. A rejoinder was quickly issued to counter his allegation by the Project’s Chairman, Dr Ibrahim Tahir (the Talban Bauchi of blessed memory). 

The DG took me to SSS where I was interrogated for two weeks and was later freed. 

When he still could not have his way, he wrote a petition against me, the Project and Members of the Ministerial Working Committee of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT to the State Security Services (SSS) alleging that the project and all persons involved in it are fraudulent. The matter was thoroughly investigated by the SSS and he could not substantiate his allegation. After two weeks of interrogation by the SSS I was freed. While we were at the SSS he went on with a campaign that we have been held by the SSS for duping a foreign company. At this point in time, a lot of people and the media had already known the truth and his antics, and were very careful getting involved in the matter and his press conference about me and the project. 

His plan to use Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to refuse us the Incorporation of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT:-

The DG went to CAC to partner with the Commission with a view to stopping the incorporation of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT. He requested from CAC that all to-be registered tourism companies be first sent to NTDC for clearance before registration. His plan was a deliberate attempt to nip the registration of the project and frustrate its incorporation. He went to CAC with a deceptive story of increase of fraudulent tourism companies and pretended to want to cleanup the industry and the Commission obliged him his request not knowing his game plan was to hold down the project. When our request to incorporate WELCOME2NIGERIA LTD was turned down and referred to NTDC by CAC, we protested and wrote directly to seek the approval of the Registrar General attaching the letter of consent for WELCOME2NIGERIA from the Ministry of Justice, the project was eventually registered.  When the DG heard of the development, he went on rampage again attacking my reputation.  

The DG refused to issue to my Company Tourism Business Certificate despite my plea and the completion of all the processes of registration in three years running:-  

Having completed the registration process of tourism business for the period of three years the DG has blatantly refused to issue to my company tourism business certificate. He ensured that registration forms were not given to WELCOME2NIGERIA but did not know that we applied for renewal through the company STAKEHOLDERS COMMUNICATIONS LTD instead of using the project name . When he discovered that I came through the company instead of the project, he queried all the staff that provided use the registration services and swore he will never issue us the certificate. We have appeal severally for him to issue us our certificate but to no avail. 

Instead of issuing us our certificate, he went running adverts on TV, Radio and News papers across the country warning corporate organizations and members of the public not to do business with any tourism project or company that does not have the endorsement of NTDC, and categorically mentioned WELCOME2NIGERIA. 

The DG recently embarked on a trip to South Africa with all the State Commissioners of Tourism and Culture to preach the fraud message against the project. 

When the DG got winds that we were approaching states government for sponsorship, he planned and sponsor a tour trip to South Africa carrying along all the State Commissioners of Tourism and Culture to inform them of dubious tourism practitioners who are canvassing partnership with the State. His actions were orchestrated to nip the progress of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT at the State level. After trying all he could and did not succeed, he stated a fresh scheming in the Ministry for the withdrawal of the Ministerial endorsement given to the project and the disbandment of the Ministerial Working Committee that the previous Minister had inaugurated. 

The DG mounted pressure on the Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD, to scuttle the signing of the MOU between My Company and NEPAD for WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT. 

The DG hearing that NEPAD and Stakeholders Communications Limited (my company) had concluded plans to sign an MOU on WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT, he went to see the Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD, alleging that the Project and Members of Ministerial Working Committee (which NEPAD is inclusive) were fraudulent. He demonstrated his hatred for me publicly in the presence of the management of NEPAD requesting that they stop doing business with me and alleged that the project was been used to dupe foreigners. He mounted pressure on the Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD to make sure the MOU was not signed. When he was asked of evidence of his allegation, he assured the SAP of forwarding the documents which till date he has not done. When his pressure was unbearable, NEPAD finally requested that he puts his request in writing, which he (DG) eventually did requesting if they (NEPAD) authorized me to use their Logo. NEPAD replied him requesting to know what he needed the information for, and also requested from him to send to them the NTDC Act. The DG never went back to NEPAD again but was satisfied that he left with his mission accomplished by straining the partnership between Stakeholders Communications Ltd and NEPAD on WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT.  Until last month he went back to NEPAD to ensure that the MOU was not signed.  

The DG mounted pressure on FTAN to de-list my membership from the Federation and he has promised the Federation that he will sponsor the publication about me on the media alleging fraud on my person as being the reason for de-listing my membership. 

The DG facilitated a meeting between himself and the Caretaker Committee of FTAN (before the present management came on board) with same allegations of fraud against me that are unfounded with the intention to destroy my reputation in the industry and cause acrimony between me and members of FTAN. He tried scheming using some members of the Caretaker Committee to convince others of the need for FTAN to withdraw the Federation endorsement for the project and de-list me as member of the Federation and publish it in the media to destroy my reputation, and promised to sponsor any legal battle that comes as result of the devilish plan. When all of his plans failed with the Care Taker Committee, he refused to give up on this mission and he is mounting severe pressure on the current management to de-list my membership as a tourism practitioner and urging them to carry on with the earlier plan. 

He tried using a proxy to takeover my company and WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT but he failed.

Some time in the month of June, 2008, some investors approached me and indicated interest to invest on WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT but eventually turned out to be a scheme connected to the DG. Barely after securing a project secretariat in Maitama District in Abuja, the young men began to mount pressure on me to sell all the equities of the company and the project to another interested buyer I don’t know. They also insisted for a new Chairman, and that the current Chairman ( Late Dr Ibrahim Tahir) of the project should be removed. When I insisted to know who the Chairman to be was, they refused to divulge and started making troubles. I had to make a report to the Chairman and members of the board concerning the matter; little did I know that it was a deliberate and well planned act of a script that also involved the Project Secretary, Mr R.F. Wilcox. When I eventually turned down politely their offer, I was severely beaten up which led to my admission in the hospital for two weeks. Later on I discovered that the DG, NTDC through a proxy wanted to takeover ownership of the project through the back door. I ran out of the office abandoned some of my properties and never went back there again.  

The DG slanderous attack on my wife and Children

I am surprised at the level the Director General in the person of Otunba Segun Rusewe can stoop to lie and carry out despicable activities with the determination to destroy me and my innocent family.  His new edition of onslaught is to be attacking my innocent family with the intention to break my home. Otunba Segun Runsewe categorically told some pressmen that he knew my wife before I married her and told them to go find her and ask her. It was an emotional trauma for my family, especially for my wife who all her life has never met the DG. Even. As if that was not enough, He went out again on a malicious campaign that he is the godfather to my children and that he made me what I am. Real men who made people do not talk about it and they do not go about destroying those they made. I met the DG barely 9months before he became the DG, before then I have never in my life met. He does not know anything about me or my family. He can not be the godfather of my children because there has never been any basis for such.  Even if his claim were true, it goes a long way to also show how desperate he could get to sacrifice people he claim he loves, friendship on the altar of greed. Abuse of office, lies, sponsoring acrimonies between colleagues, friends and family members and treat to life is none the less what the DG is good at. He does this, especially, to perceived or imaginary enemies in the tourism-culture sector, more so, if the so called enemies of his are young enterprising men whose ideas threatens his ineptitude.  

The DG’s ethnic and religious attack on me and the people of EDO STATE as criminals and 419.

When he realized that he could not get his way with me in which ever way he tried, he tried to ensure that he breaks the relationship between me and My Late Chairman Dr Ibrahim Tahir (Talba Bauchi of blessed memory), the Chairman of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT. Unknown to him my relationship with the Talba was like that of a father and a son. To ensure he destroys my reputation and leave no stone unturned, when the Director General went to my hometown in Afenmai kingdom, Edo State he took photographs of my grand father’s house and came to Abuja to call a tourism press meeting to run my family down. In the press meeting, he claimed that I am from a Christian and idol worshiping poor family from Edo State, that I came to Abuja and became a fake and fraudulent Muslim convert and that that’s how Edo people are everywhere. That, Edo people are all criminals and fraudster and should be prevented from polluting the tourism industry. In his usual way and manner, he went in search of my friends and guardians from the north to sell to them the cock and bull story thinking that it will affect my relationship with people who knew me right from my birth. He thought his actions would withdrawal sympathy from me if he can prove where I am from, give the place a bad name and castigate my reputation to make me look like a fair weather good-for-nothing city boy. He told them that my Islamic name should not be an issue but where I am from. And that am actually from Edo State, home of 419’s and kidnappers. He sponsor some anonymous caller to tell late Dr Ibrahim Tahir that I am not from the North, that I am from Edo State and my people are 419 and that he (Talba) should beware of me. Late Dr Ibrahim Tahir not only rebuked the callers but was shocked and afraid at the extent the DG was going with his dastard act. That made him to write a petition against the DG to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and copied the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other relevant security agencies including ICPC; the DG intercepted most of the letters and suppressed the investigation.  The DG’s embarrassing and malicious utterances against me and the people of Edo State have not stopped. I have never for once denial where I am from and my Islamic faith. I am from Edo State and born in a dedicated Muslim family and married to a northern lady. All my life I have been a Muslim and my faith is Islam. Even, if today, I chose to be anything I want to be, I think it is my own business. This is how funny a Director General of the Federal Republic can descend to want to destroy me and my family.  

The DG has been boasting and intimidating everyone with his connection and contact with people in high places and has warned me couple of times that I do not have anyone to run to and nowhere to hide by the time he finishes with me.

Otunba Segun Runsewe would not stop intimidating and threatening my life every now and then because he feels he has everything in government going on for him; the connect and access to the Villa. Several times he has boasted right in from my face, in the presence of people that there is nothing anybody can do about my matter. In his entire act, he has resounded it severally that he has the support and the backing of the Vice Presidential, The Chairman, EFCC (Farida Waziri), and Heads of the Security Agencies in Nigeria and leaders of the National Assembly. 

Reason why his actions speak volume of the abuse of the opportunity of his connection in high places and office, and also the reason he feels he is beholden to the authority that has severally called him to order. The DG should know that everything in life including position or authority is God’s. 

The DG says the media owes him because of his assistance to them, that I should take my story else where.

Segun Runsewe claims he owns the media and the media owes him the duty of protection, and that the media is fully under his control and that he has assisted virtually most of them in the country to be what they are today. Good for him. Even if that were true, it is not my business but the meaning of it is that either good or bad, rain or sunshine, no matter what Otunba Segun Runsewe does to anyone in this country the Nigerian media will always be by his side. If  Otunba Segun Runsewe controls all the stories developed or made by men in any form, let him know that GOD ALMIGHTY has the power over the senses of all men, right over all things they can ear and everything they can see. Connection and friendship in high places are desired and seek by everyone to positively advance their own course, nonetheless, the common good of humanity and the society but not to destroy the system, intimidate and hoodwink innocent people or abuse public office for self aggrandizement. 

Floating COMETONIGERIA project through a proxy and the constant hacking of WELCOMETONIGERIA.ORG WEBSITE.

After successive failed attempts to hijack WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT the DG is now sponsoring and floating another similar project through a proxy, called COMETONIGERIA. The DG is doing everything possible to kill WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT for COMETONIGERIA. Five different times, the WELCOME2NIGERIA website; welcometonigeria.org has been hacked.  

WELCOME2NIGERIA MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE VISIT TO THE MINISTER

On the 21st of July, 2009, Members of the Ministerial Working Committee on WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to brief him on how far we have gone with the project and the challenges with the DG, The Minister assured us of the Ministry’s support and backing and also promised to have a word with Otunba Segun Runsewe and that we should go ahead with our preparation towards the launching. After the courtesy call to the Minister, the DG saw another opportunity which he has been looking for. He finally infiltrated members of the committee and cause disharmony to forestall the launching of the project and make it appeared like a failed venture. 

HIS RECENT ATTACK ON MY PERSON IN NTA

Reason for this petition is the DG’s recent attack on my person in NTA headquarters with his arsenal of malicious slander to destroy my reputation and put a final nail on the WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT because he is not happy that some of the Television programmes of the project are on air showcasing the best of Nigeria. This is what he has all along been fighting, trying to prevent the public from seeing; the importance of the project and the its benefits to Nigeria.  

Sometime in the month of October, 2009, Stakeholders Communications Limited (my company and the owner of the WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT brand) and Nigeria Television Authority International (NTAi) entered into a partnership understanding to jointly produce WELCOME2NIGERIA TV PROGRAMMES on partnership basis. The programmes are aimed at showcasing the human, natural and investment potentials of Nigeria globally to complement the re-branding project and advocate the 7 Point Agenda of Mr. President towards the realization of the Vision 2020. The TV programmes took the admiration of the Honourable Minister of Information and Communication which lead to her endorsing the programmes. The programmes had been on air enjoying international broadcast and overwhelming follower ship and response until on the 23 rd of November, 2009 when the DG NTDC (Otunba Runsewe) went to NTA to maliciously accuse me and the project as been fraudulent, which led to NTA suspending the transmission of the TV programmes. The TV programmes that were suspended are, Experience Nigeria, Soundx of Nigeria, Welcome to Nigeria Travel, Biz, People and Places and Welcome to Nigeria TV Talk Show. 

In the time of transmission WELCOME2NIGERIA TV TALK SHOW and other programmes made global impact. People around had began to see the true Nigeria and her potentials. The Programmes had featured the Honourable Minister of Information and Communication Professor Dora Akunyili, the Mexican and Spanish Ambassadors to Nigeria respectively. It had also showcased the beautiful festivals of Nigeria through the Experience Nigeria TV programmes, which also featured the DG, Abuja Carnival, Professor Ojo Bakare, and the subsequent transmission of the activities of the United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) visit to Nigeria until the DG (Otunba Runsewe) frustrated everything.  
 

His unruly conduct may be connected to the fact that he feels that he is above everyone and the law of the land. He had many times thrown caution into the winds to bring his office to total disrepute by wanting to engage with me in a brawl publicly. His recent annoyance and action is connected to the positive stride of WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT and the partnership with the rebranding project which he thinks his Agency should have run.   

The new face of WELCOME2NIGERI PROJECT TV programmes had began to open up Nigeria because it was meant to complement the re-branding campaign project and thereby open up other possibilities attracting investors to the country. This, the DG saw and became unsettled. He is not happy with the TV programmes, certainly, because he has been lamenting that he would have by now gone far with the WELCOMETONIGERIA CAMPAIGN before Professor Dora Akunyili came up with the re-branding project. And the best way to ensure that WELCOME2NIGERIA does not succeed from the tourism perspective is to kill the entire project or any thereof. The DG’s attitude is not what anyone would expect from someone who wants government to succeed and help the country to grow and change for the better.  

It is amazing  and absurd that after ensuring that he scuttle the transmission of the programmes he turned around again to meet some partners of the project to tell them that NTA had stop running the TV programmes because they found out I was fraudulent and the TV programmes was a hoax, that they should withdraw their endorsement of the programme.  

The easiest way to destroy any good thing is to attack its reputation and that is just what the DG has been doing and he has found that as a weapon and key to unbolt, jam and settle scores. However, it is very easy for anyone no matter how highly or lowly placed to easily believe such allegation especially when it is coming from someone of a high standing in the society and a government official. He is exploiting government to government relationship to frustrate the programme that will transform the tourism industry by destroying and attacking my reputation. 

If there has been any business relationship between Otunba Segun Runsewe and I, I have always been the one been cheated. He owes me millions of naira and has refused to pay me for the job I executed for the Abuja Carnival. In fact, in 2005, he short paid me in the job I executed for Commonwealth Tourism Minister Meeting and also in the 2005 Abuja Carnival.  

The DG knows a good idea when he sees one, and would do anything to leech on it, ambush the initiator through blackmail at any slightest opportunity and turn around to take ownership of it. The implication of all his unruly and slanderous actions against me is such that already has grave psychological consequences on my life and my entire family and the project. Millions of funds expended on the project had gone down the drain because of the DG’s sabotage and die hard attitude to ensure that the project is not implemented. Apart from his failed plot to hijack WELCOME2NIGERIA PROJECT and the refusal to pay me the money he owes me, I can not fathom the reason for his (Otunba Segun Runsewe’s) ardent pursuit of my person and my family the way he has done.  

The DG’s (Otunba Segun Runsewe) fight, I strongly believe is predicated upon nothing but because of the money he owes me, which he does not want to pay, also because he thought he has found a project that he can use to make money to serve his means towards his political ends at the expense of the development of Nigeria’s tourism industry.  Because things did not go the way he calculated it, he sees me as being the reasons of his despair.  

I still very much ask myself, why the DG would put himself through such pedestal of Herculean task of vicious pursuit of my person and project directly when he has documents in his possession and prove of my fraudulent acts he can easily give the police. If I were actually fraudulent as he claims, his daily atrocities year-in year-out against my person, family and project would not have been necessary at all since he knows the way to the police station, financial crime agency or security agents. He would not because of false allegation by him and wanton abuse of office. I am not a fraudulent man as the DG wants everyone to believe. In the past fifteen years I have been a tourism practitioner, 12 years before the DG had a direct stint in the tourism industry. I have been and still contributing to the industry.  

All persons mentioned and document referred to in this petition can be confirmed, as well as the DG’s conduct and malicious attack on my person, my family and the project as I have claimed. 

With the way the DG is going, I have no option but to appeal to you to use your esteem office to intervene in this matter because I do not feel safe anymore with his type in the Nigerian public system, and also to seek for the protection of my family, property, right, reputation and physical safety.  

Although the Project Chairman Dr Ibrahim Tahir just passed on two week but for any confirmation of this complaint you may do your own investigation from the authority or persons I have mentioned herein. 
 

Thank you. 

Y.I. Isa Yusuf

Project Coordinator/CEO