Connect with us

News

Why I went public with bribe offer to write against Dangote refinery — Hundeyin

Published

on

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

News

Great Loss As Family Announces The Painful Passing Iduwini-borne Billionaire Prince, Presley Gere Iyalahga 

Published

on

By: Miracle Palakia

Odimodi, Delta State – The Iyalahga and Diepregha families, Odimodi, Aghoro, and the entire Iduwini Kingdom in Delta and Bayelsa States, breaks silence on the painful loss of their son, Prince Presley Isele Gere Iyalahga, Billionaire businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Preslyn Group of Companies, who passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the age of 48.

Prince Presley was an illustrious son of two distinguished families: His Royal Majesty Gere J. Iyalagha, (Igbedikuru-II), the late Ibenanawei of Iduwini Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, and the late Regent of Iduwini Kingdom (Delta & Bayelsa States), High Chief Diepregha Akpotelemor of Gberigberi-Idumu Quarters, Aghoro-I Community, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The former President of the Iduwini National Youth Council for Peace and Development was a respected businessman and community leader, who’s untimely demise has thrown his family, friends, associates, community, and Kingdom into deep shock and sorrow. He’s survived by his beloved wife, Princess Preye Presley Iyalagha, and six children.

The families made known the development to newsmen on Saturday, August 16th, in a statement jointly signed by Mr. Oroupade Oweibe and George Diepregha for the families and his son, Prince Peremobowei Presley Iyalagha, for the children.

According to the statement, funeral rites will take place on Friday, August 29th, 2025. At 10 a.m., the body will depart Warri via Millar Jetty to his compound in Odimodi for a brief Funeral Service, lying in state, interment.

IduwiniVoice can report that Prince Presley Iyalagha’s passing marks not only the loss of a vibrant Royal entrepreneur but that of a leader in Iduwini Kingdom and Ijaw nation. His memory remains deeply cherished by the lives he touched and all who knew him.

Continue Reading

News

Jubilation As Madam Beauty Warejuwowei Bags Federal Appointment. 

Published

on

By: Divine Perezide

Congratulatory messages continue to pour in as Warri-borne business tycoon, and Delta Ijaw APC leader, Madam Beauty Warezuwowei makes the list of members recently appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into the reconstituted Governing Council and Board of Trustees of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYREP). Reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to tackling environmental degradation in oil-producing regions, the newly appointed board members include representatives from the Niger Delta, Ogoni Communities, NGOs, and oil-producing states, with the Minister of Environment serving as Chairman of the council.

Read the statement announcing the appointment below:

“STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

“PRESIDENT TINUBU ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR HYREP

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYREP), with the Minister of Environment serving as Chairman of the Council.

“The other members are Loanyie Barituka Victor, who represents the Non-governmental Organisations focused on the environment, Bright Onyebuchi Jacob, and Henry Obiabure, who represent the Niger Delta communities.

“Professor Barinedum Michael Nwibere and Barrister Baride Abdul Gwezia are the representatives of the Ogoni Community on the new Council.

“The nine oil-producing states have two representatives on the Council: Gideon Onyebuwa Melfor and Dr Ibikunle Omotehinse.

“There are four alternative members of the Council, representing Ogoniland and the Niger Delta: Rev. Canon Dr Abraham Olungwe, who was reappointed and Engr. Maeba Power Ekpobari are the alternate members of the Council representing Ogoniland. Joseph Akedesuo and Beauty Warejuowei represent the Niger Delta.

“President Tinubu also reconstituted the HYREP Board of Trustees, with Emmanuel Nwiika Deeyah reappointed chairman.

“Fred Mbombo Igwe and Dr. Fred Barivule Kpakol will represent Ogoni communities and stakeholders on the board. Mrs Dorcas Amos represents the other Niger Delta communities, while Chief Jide Damazio, who was reappointed, represents the NGOs dealing with environmental issues.

“Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

“August 11, 2025”

The appointment of Warejuwowei into the board of the HYREP, an office marking the renewed poise at restoring the badly polluted environments in the Niger Delta and advancin Ogoniland’s remediation efforts, has been applauded by people from across the region, adding that she will surely deliver meaningful contributions towards the successes of the agency and the federal government.

Continue Reading

News

Jubiliation As Chief Sheriff Mulade Successfully Complete Ph.D. In International Relations

Published

on

By: Favour Bibaikefie

Commendations pour in from across Africa as renowned Delta State-born peace and development advocate, Comrade (Chief) Mulade Sheriff, has succefully defended his researh for Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in International Relations at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.

A United Nations Peace Ambassador, environmentalist, human rights activist, sports enthusiast, entrepreneur, educational promoter, and social leader, Dr. Mulade is the National Coordinator of the foremost civil rights organisation, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), also known as the Africa 4 Peace Centre.

This remarkable academic feat once again demonstrates his unwavering zeal for intellectual excellence, further cementing his reputation as a visionary leader committed to peace, justice, and development, through the instrumentality of the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge.

As he takes this leap from local, state, and national engagements to a more pronounced presence on the international stage, Nigerians can look forward to the far-reaching impact of his knowledge, which promises to translate into global opportunities for the nation and beyond.

Continue Reading