Uduaghan And The ‘Missing’ $6m Chevron’s Ugborodo New Town Dev Fund?

Is it not shameful and disheartening that for over four years now, the
slow progress of work at the site of what was supposed to be the largest
gas plant in Africa- the Chevron’s over $15 billion dollar gas development
project at Ugborodo community in Delta state could be clearly traced to
issues revolving around two dominant questions both bothering on
self-centredness and malfeasance of few privilege individuals. First,
where is the $6 million the American oil major sent as its counterpart
fund in the negotiated relocation of Ugborodo community from their current
site and development of a new town project? And where is the N3.85 billion
the Delta state government claimed to have released as it own share in the
counterpart funding arrangement?
Leader of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Pa Johnson Ayomike, Monday January
20 2014 raised alarm that the $6 million sent by Chevron in the United
States of America as its contribution in the counterpart funding
arrangement towards the relocation and development of the Ugborodo new
town project in Delta state has been either misappropriated or outrightly
missing.
The Delta state governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, an Itsekiri, was directly
accused of complicity both in the missing money and the crisis that has
rocked the Ugborodo community, the host the new gas plant.
As alleged by Pa Ayomike, the money “was changed to naira and deposited in
a bank account controlled by signatories named by Governor Emmanuel
Uduaghan, without the knowledge of registered trustees of Ugborodo
community.”
His words: “To set the Ugborodo record straight, the initial N900 million
fixed at a 13 per cent annual interest has depleted after five years, when
the account became public. Simple mathematical extrapolation suggests that
the balance should have been N1.4 billion at this time based on the
exchange rate of $1 to N150 that prevailed in 2008 when the money was
deposited.”
The Itsekiri leader also raised questions over the additional N3.850
billion which the Delta state government claimed to have contributed as it
own counterpart fund as agreed for the development of the same new town
project. He alleged “professional estate valuers have indicated that only
about N60 million worth of job had been done on the site and yet the money
had been expended.”
Ayomike who blamed Uduaghan for the crisis in Ugborodo, said the governor
meddled in the local Ugborodo community affair by asking the elected
chairman of the Governing Council of the Ugborodo Community Trust to step
down for another candidate. He alleged “the governor backs the illegal
governing council led by his cohort as the authentic team despite the
existence of a set of electoral rules embodied in the instrument long
adopted by the community and registered with the Corporate Affairs
Commission in Abuja.”
The concerns expressed by the octogenarian, Pa Ayomike raised so many
questions about the Uduaghan’s interest and complicity in the community
issue.
First, Pa Ayomike and his faction claimed to have solid evidence that the
Delta State Government’s counterpart share of N3.850 billion was
documented as spent on the Ugborodo New Town Project. So the question is:
Where is the $6 million contributed by Chevron for the relocation and
development of Ugborodo New Town Project? Also, where is the Delta State
Government’s N3.850 billion alleged contribution to the project?
The issue of the actual initial deposit is very crucial in this matter
also. Pa Ayomike and his group alleged the initial deposit was N900
million using the exchange rate of $1 to N150 that prevailed when the
money was paid in 2008. And this makes some sense. But the Delta state
government declared that it was N705 million that was initially deposited.
So the alleged differential of N195 million in the claims by the two sides
also needs to be adequately clarified at best by warehousing bank- Ecobank
and signatories to the account. ofcourse this would resolve the difference
between the N1.4 billion and N908 million declared by the Pa Ayomike’s
group and the Delta state government respectively as the current value of
the money.
Uduagha in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary following the
accusation by the octogenarian Itsekiri leader maintained that the money
($6 million) brought by Chevron with the accrued interests has not been
embezzled but intact in Ecobank. The governor did not say anything
concerning the purported expended N3.850 billion allegedly contributed by
the Delta State Government. Instead, it was the Secretary to the State
Government (SSG), Mr Ovouzourie Macaulay who on an interview on Channels
Television on Sunday January 27 stated that the Delta state governor’s
alleged complicity in the Ugborordo community crisis was because the state
government moved in to mediate and ensure peace and security of lives and
property in the area.. The SSG also insisted that the Chevron’s money has
not been embezzled.
If true as the governor claimed the money could not have been embezzled by
a third party without Chevron’s involvement because: “The way it is
arranged Chevron has to approve the project. Chevron has to sign the
cheque and Chevron has to supervise the project. The money is a fund that
no single individual can withdraw,” then, Chevron has to make public
statement on the status of the account.
As Uduaghan is sure the money and all the accrued interest are intact in
the bank, should with the urgency it deserves ask both Chevron Nigeria
Limited and Ecobank to make independent statements concerning the funds.
At least this would douse the mounting tension in the area arising from
mutual suspicions. Though it may be more difficult for Chevron considering
the likely backlash of heightened community antagonism from the warring
factions, Ecobank should set the pace since the request on the status of
the fixed deposit is being demanded by established owners of the money and
also signatories to the account.
The Delta state governor must extricate himself from allegations of
complicity in the leadership crisis and convincingly show that he is only
mediating without bias for the sake of peace and progress of work at the
site of the gas plant. Uduaghan should build on truth and transparency as
this will convince the people of the community that he is actually working
for their good. Anything short of this will only breed more suspicion and
ultimately a complete breakdown of law and order.
Now to Ugborodo community, supposing the Delta State Government actually
set out to contribute the N3.850 billion as its counterpart fund, which
faction of the community leadership is Uduaghan going to dole out the
money? Which group is the oil company- Chevron going to be dealing with
as authentic leadership of the Ugborodo community without getting itself
messed in the dirty politics of community crisis? If the Ugborodo people
cannot even develop and agree on a workable plan which is basic for their
new town project but more interested in squandering monies meant for the
community development, would they ever have the moral stance to challenge
Chevron for renegading on its community social responsibilities or even
the Delta state government for neglecting them?
The community has spent so much time fighting over who controls the funds
rather than doing a single thing on their part to produce a blueprint of
what they think they want as their new town? Is there an articulated
development masterplan for the new town project? There is none: because if
such plan exists, at least houses and other infrastructures would have
been fully built in the place to enable relocation of the indigenes while
other bigger development issues are being sorted out. You see why the
current disposition and power tussle in the community should make all the
parties hide their faces in shame.
IFEANYI IZEZE is an Abuja-based Consultant and can be reached on:
iizeze@yahoo.com; 234-8033043009)