From: Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The Chairman, North East Youths and Elders Forum, Alhaji Salihu Muhammad Magaji has described the allegations of misappropriation of funds against the North East Development Commission (NEDC) under the Leadership of Mohammed Goni Akali as ” mischievious, and deliberate attempt to paint him black for selfish reasons”.
Magaji stated this during a Press conference on Thursday in Bauchi, while reacting to some publications in the media where the The North East Youth Progressive Forum of Nigeria (NEYPFN) chairman Comrade Maina Bukar alleged misappropriation of funds in the NEDC.
He said that the so called North East Youth Progressive Forum of Nigeria (NEYPFN) that made those false allegations is a faceless group, stressing that the group is not known in the whole of the North-east region.
Magaji said it was unfortunate for some people who claim to have come from the Northern part of the country to make false claims and accusations against Alkali, pointing out that even though the group petitioned the National Assembly and Federal House of Representatives committee to carry out investigations in the NEDC, Alkali was vindicated and commended for his transparency.
“NEDC established N6 billion ICT training centers for North East youths indigenes in higher institutions of Bauchi and Gombe states. It also has training centers in various universities and polytechnic in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states where they built a 20 bed facility within Goni stadium IDP camp and 30 bed facility within muna garage IDP camps”
“The Commission also equipped a molecular laboratory in Bauchi state as well as established a Norh East Development Endowement Fund to build human capital of member states in the region.It also gave scholarship to candidates across the states in the Northeast and recently trained 380 candidates on ICT where the commission gave each one of them starter packs and a sum of N20,000.It also donated tractors and other farming inputs to farmers in the region” he said
Magaji said that the smear campaign againt the leadership of the commission failed woefully when the Federal House of representatives investigated the activities of the commission and vindicated Alkali, saying” I think it is time for Alkali enemies to stop the mischievious and false accusations against him and allow him to work for the development of the region”. END