Reps Member, Nwawuba Warns Detractors Against Blackmailing Him

Member, who represents Ikeduru/Mbaitoli Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Henry Nwawuba, has denied the falsehood against him over Niger Delta Affairs Ministry Training and Empowerment Fund meant for Mbaike Youth, urging people to disregard the rumor as it was politically motivated and unfounded.

Nwawuba said the allegation that he threatened some youths of Ikeduru to give him 50% of the empowerment fund
was false as he accused the Member for Ikeduru State Constituency, Amb Uche Ogbuagwu of masterminding the blackmail against him, saying he was maligning him over Mbaike Reps Seat.

In a release signed and made available to this newspaper by his Media Aide, Egejuru Austin T, Nwawuba described the allegation as a wild rumor.

“The attention of Member for Mbatoili/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Henry Nwawuba, has been drawn to wild rumors, allegations of fraud and threat involving participants of a training programme he initiated at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs
for Mbaike Youths.

“The falsehood emanated from Amb Uche Ogbuagu, who represents Ikeduru State Constituency, who alleged that participants of the scheme were fleeced of their startup allowances and that their statutory accommodation and transport allowances were embezzled. He also alleged that the number of participants was reduced in order to maximize financial gains by Nwawuba. These allegations coming at a time the constituency is agog with adulations for the ranking member over a very impressive scorecard in the first year of his second tenure, can only be termed a minor distraction and indeed an undesirable irritation.”

He said, in order to disabuse the minds of right thinking constituents especially those from Ikeduru, who may have been misled, that “Nwawuba has consistently facilitated training programs for Mbaike Youths in Agro business and other ventures since his election in 2015 without any hitches. Under the said Agric program under reference, he submitted 33 names to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for training and empowerment. Unfortunately, the Ministry via an official communication pruned down the list to 20, in compliance with NCDC Social Distance Guidelines. Participants were duly notified and they went through documentation process including opening of bank accounts. All allowances were fully paid at the training venue in Owerri. None of the activities took place outside Owerri.

“While the process involving 20 participants was almost completed”, he added “directive from the Ministry’s Headquarters was issued, directing the organizers of the training to reduce the participants to 15. It could be noted that all the 20 participants had undergone the entire orientation program and were awaiting the distribution of start up packs. The initial budget for each of the 20 participants was N300,000. When the number was reduced to 15, the individual take home was increased to N500,000. In the spirit of fairness, the organizers thought it wise to discuss with the 15 listed participants to make concessions to the five participants, who went through the same process with the rest, but were excluded, not due to their own fault.

“The 15 lucky participants agreed to pay N200,000 into a pool for distribution to the dropped participants. In a strange twist and in repudiation of the gentleman’s agreement reached to carry their brothers along, some of the beneficiaries from Ikeduru bolted away with the entire N500,000, leaving their brothers stranded”.

Egejuru noted that they “discovered that the dishonorable act by these youths was instigated by vested interests, who are bent on creating violence and blackmail against Nwawuba. We have also realized that some highly placed individuals are behind the ugly scene to paint an innocent man who meant well for his people especially youths with falsehood. We wish to remind those who are rational that this is the handiwork of mischief makers. As human beings, they should be conscious of the judgement of history. Nwawuba has been at the forefront of the appeal for these five participants to be carried along. It is negative to imagine that Nwawuba would descend so low as to deprive his deserving constituents of monies due to them”.

Nwawuba, therefore, call on well meaning people of Mbaike to disregard the unfounded and self- serving malicious rumors and continue to support him as he remains undaunted in the delivery of the dividends of democracy to his people.