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Why I went public with bribe offer to write against Dangote refinery — Hundeyin
IduwiniVoice
Why I went public with bribe offer to write against Dangote refinery — Hundeyin
By Prisca Sam-Duru
When investigative Journalist David Hundeyin, broke the news on his X, about how he triumphed over the temptation to craft an article to smear the Dangote refinery and be rewarded ‘handsomely’, not many people believed him.
Hundeyin had last weekend in a series of posts on X, written about how he struggled first with the idea of going public with serious allegations against an international NGO, known as Dialogue Earth, accusing them of attempting to commission a smear campaign targeting the Dangote Refinery while pretending to be addressing environmental concerns.
According to him, the foreign NGO, which was known previously as China Dialogue Trust, offered him N800,000 which is about $500 to write an article to be focused on environmental issues surrounding the Dangote refinery.
“I debated long and hard whether to do this publicly, but I think a message needs to be sent to a group of external interests working in tandem with the internal interests described in the quoted tweet to counteract the interests of half a billion West Africans. A message that at whatever level we exist, we take our destiny seriously and we are not to be trifled with.
“Last week, I received an N800,000 offer from an international NGO called Dialogue Earth (formerly known as China Dialogue Trust) to write an article essentially saying that Dangote Refinery is terrible for the environment because something something “Environmental Concerns,” something something “Climate Change,” something something “Energy Transition Policy,” something something “COP 28.”
“The (unstated but clearly implied) thrust of the brief was for a prominent local voice to put their name on an article that is an argument or a premise for the the Nigerian government to kill the refinery based on its “energy transition commitments” and “environmental policy.” This conclusion wasn’t immediately apparent when they reached out to me, but I suspected where it was heading, and I quickly accepted the offer so that I could see the brief and obtain hard evidence. I’ve attached screenshots from the brief below…” Hundeyin stated.
Some netizens however, believed him, praised him for having the will power to make such important exposure in the interest of the Nigeria people. They also advised him to stay safe.
For people doubting whether the post and claim were facts, Hundeyin spoke on the same issue on Arise Television during the week. There, he explained what went down.
According to him, there are foreign actors who exploit Africa’s energy challenges which manifested recently in a narrative war against Dangote Refinery aimed at maintaining energy poverty in Nigeria.
He stated clearly that he went public with the issue so that people will know that ‘there are external interests invested in the energy poverty that Nigeria and West Africa have historically faced’.
Hundeyin who emphasised the importance of public exposure as a powerful tool against hidden agendas, maintained his earlier claim on X, that he was offered N800,000 by an international NGO, known as Dialogue Earth, to defame the Dangote refinery. N800,000? That’s what it would have taken him to do a stinker against the Dangote refinery? The bribe amount sounds quite ridiculous to many who also see it as a huge insult on the journalism profession.
His words, “People need to know that there are external interests invested in the energy poverty that Nigeria and West Africa have historically faced. I don’t believe that my going public with it is going to change the world, however, I think that the power of public exposure is one of the last few powers that regular people in this part of the world still have.
“A lot of the powers that these foreign actors wield can be wielded because it is done in secret because people don’t even know they exist.”
Just as he wrote on his X, the investigative journalist disclosed that for long, many foreign actors have been benefiting from Africa’s persistent energy challenges, adding that if he didn’t go public on this encounter, it would have been labeled conspiracy theory as usual.
“Prior to this incident, if you were to come out and tell people that there are players in the global development space or in the NGO space who would very much like the status quo to be preserved in terms of Africa being poor and Nigeria suffering from energy poverty, despite being one of the world’s largest energy exporters, it would sound like a conspiracy theory.
“There is a narrative war being fought by foreign entities, using African faces to lead this attack,” he said.
In essence, the move by the NGO involved was ‘part of a broader strategy to preserve the status quo of energy poverty in Africa despite the continent’s vast resources.’
Asked whether he believed some other journalists may have been approached by not just the NGO he mentioned but by other foreign entities to scuttle major projects in the country, he said, “Absolutely, 100%! First of all, in this instance, I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t the only journalist that they would have reached out to though I can’t prove that yet. In the aftermath of going public, they mobilised a narrative response on a news platform. There’s already a pushback where what I did was termed sensationalist…essentially, that it’s not a big deal that I kind of misrepresented what was being done and that I’m basically an attention seeker. That I did it to chase clout.”
The said offer that would have worked against Dangote refinery was according to the journalist, not the first time he was approached for commissioned work but actually, the first time he got an offer to write against Nigeria’s interest.
“It is not the first time in terms of being commissioned, that I have been approached to write a story or an article. It is very common within the journalism space but this is the first time that someone has come to me with an offer to write about something that affects my country, and affects me potentially, basically telling me to write against my own interest.”
Hundeyin maintained he made the revelation in the interest of Nigerians while not expecting action from the government.
“I expect the government to do absolutely nothing as they always do. I didn’t do this to get a response from the government. It was to educate the public because I think it is only the public that can rescue this thing now, because clearly the government of the day at the very least, doesn’t seem to care if Dangote refinery takes off or not.”
© 2024 Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria
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Peretengboro Blasts Lokpobiri Over Rivers Crisis Remarks, Accuses Him of Siding with His Stomach and Insulting Ijaw Nation Further
By Divine Perezide
Warri, Nigeria — April 5, 2025: Prominent Ijaw Youth Leader and CEO of IduwiniVoice, Prince (Dr.) Peretengboro KlintinBibaikefie, has condemned the recent comments made by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) National President, Jonathan Lokpobiri, over the political crisis in Rivers State, describing his remarks as “reckless, disappointing, and a betrayal of Ijaw interests.”
In a statement released to press men in Warri, Dr. Peretengboro accused Lokpobiri of unfairly and shamefully blaming the Ijaw people for the state of emergency declared in Rivers State, while carefully avoiding any criticism of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is clearly the center of the crisis.
“Jonathan Lokpobiri is towing the same shameful path with the very weak President Bola Tinubu who either has zero knowledge of the mind games Wike’s camp has played throughout the said crisis or is the real orchestra of the entire imbroglio — exonerating Wike in the face of glaring complicity, just to protect his brother, the Minister of State for Petroleum,” Peretengboro said. “If his role as an Ijaw leader conflicts with his stomach, then he should do the honourable thing and resign. Better still, keep quiet, and allow the spokesman to speak for Ijaw people. But no, he needed to show to Wike on who’s side he stands”
The video of Lokpobiri’s controversial remarks, which has gone viral across social media platforms, shows him lambasting the Ijaw people over the situation in Rivers State. However, the IYC President made no mention of Wike’s role in the political instability and carefully crafted plot by Wike and Tinubu to remove Gov. Fubara, using the emergency declaration — a silence that has drawn sharp criticism from several Ijaw stakeholders.
Peretengboro insisted that Lokpobiri should have allowed the IYC National Spokesman to address such sensitive matters on behalf of the Council rather than acting in a way that undermines the unity and dignity of the Ijaw nation, even in the glirring face of suppression by someone from a lesser minority.
“The speech was infamous and unrepresentative of the true position of Ijaw youths. All well-meaning Ijaws must rise up and condemn this disgraceful display by Lokpobiri,” he said.
He further called on the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to urgently summon Lokpobiri and call him to order, stating that his actions threaten to erode the credibility of the IYC and diminish its capacity to defend Ijaw interests.
“We all understand the dicy fix, Mr. Jonathan finds himself in this whole situation. He has been very passive since the beginning of the crisis in Rivers State because of that, but the IYC is not a personal platform. It is a collective voice of all Ijaw people with a history of struggle. Lokpobiri has failed in his leadership by letting his stomach control his brain instead of letting the IYC do its job, and the INC must act swiftly,” he concluded.
The IduwiniVoice, which also monitored the viral video, reports that discontent is growing among Ijaw communities, with many demanding a retraction of Lokpobiri’s statement and a formal apology to the Ijaw nation, and others demanding outright impeachment of the IYC President.
By Christy David
Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has urged President Bola Tinubu to focus on serving the interests of the Nigerian people rather than catering to a select political group. His remarks follow recent controversial actions by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
Okaba stressed the need for Tinubu to take a firm stance against the growing influence of political elites and fulfill his commitments to the nation. “The president is tactically being unfair to Nigerians and encouraging Wike to keep doing more. It’s not fair,” he stated. “Nigerians expect so much from you, and that is why they voted massively for you. Serve the people, not a cabal.”
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Wednesday, Okaba voiced concerns over Wike’s involvement in political activities in Bayelsa, particularly regarding planned rallies in the state. He condemned these actions as unfair and divisive, arguing that they worsen political tensions in the Niger Delta.
Okaba pointed to the upcoming rallies on April 12, where opposing groups are expected to gather at the same venue, as a deliberate attempt to manipulate the political climate. He accused Wike of using these events to advance personal interests at the expense of the Ijaw people.
Describing Wike’s actions as a direct challenge to the Ijaw nation, Okaba criticized the former governor’s inflammatory rhetoric and the transformation of welcome rallies into platforms for political crises.
News
IPF Visit Burutu for On-the-spot Assessment as Dr. Takeme Reiterates Commitment to Sustaining Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda
By Favour Bibaikefie
The Executive Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area in Delta State, Dr. Julius Takeme, has reaffirmed his dedication to sustainable development across the council in consonance with the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori MORE agenda. He made this commitment on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by members of the Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF) at the local government secretariat.
The visit marked the beginning of an inspection tour by the IPF, a coalition of media executives, across Ijaw local government areas nationwide.
In his address to the IPF delegation, Takeme emphasized that his administration is committed to the MORE AGENDA, a developmental initiative championed by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. He highlighted that within one year, Burutu Local Government has witnessed significant infrastructural improvements under his leadership.
“Guided by Governor Oborevwori’s MORE AGENDA, our administration has undertaken numerous visible infrastructural projects in Burutu,” Takeme stated. “This mandate has driven us to prioritize the transformation of Burutu, leading to the construction of a combined one-kilometer internal road network.”
The Olotu of Obotebe Kingdom further noted that his administration has invested in critical sectors such as public health, sanitation, housing, and civil servant welfare. He pointed out that several senior council officers had previously faced challenging working conditions, which his administration has actively addressed.
Takeme listed key intervention projects, including the renovation of health centers in Labulouseigha and Ofougbene communities, the construction and renovation of senior staff quarters, and the building of residential quarters for the President of the Customary Court. Additional projects include the construction of three modern public toilets, distribution of essential medicines to health centers, and the employment of over 2,000 women to maintain cleanliness within the local government headquarters.
He further disclosed that several other projects are in the pipeline and will be officially commissioned as part of his administration’s one-year anniversary celebrations.
IPF President and Niger Delta activist, Comrade Austin Ozobo, who also serves as the Publisher of Congress Newspaper, explained that the forum’s tour aims to evaluate governance and development across Ijaw communities. He commended Takeme for his efforts and urged him to sustain the momentum in delivering essential services and infrastructure to the people of Burutu.