JUST ONE WEEK AFTER GOVERNOR OBI LEFT OFFICR, YOUTHS HAVE ACCUSED HIS AIDE OF EMBEZZLIG N40BN MEANT FOR YOUTHS EMPOWERMENT, BUT HE DENIES.

Anambra Youths Protest Non-Payment of the Empowerment Fund …Obi’s Aid Denies Involvement Barely one week after the exit of the former Anambra Governor, Chief Peter Obi,  some sections of youths from the state yesterday protested the non payment of the N40 million empowerment fund released by the former Gov. Peter Obi, accusing the Special Assistant to the former Governor, Hon. Nduka Alor of playing pranks with the payment of the fund. Obi on Thursday, March 13, 2014 announced the release of N40million to 400 youths who were in August last year trained in various skills including poultry management, fish production, soap making, snail and poultry management among other skills. Over 500 youths were however trained for the empowerment but only 400 youths submitted their business plan as directed by the office of SA on youth Moblisation. The protesting youths alleged that Hon. Nduka Alor asked them to make initial payment of N20,000 before collecting the N100,000 draft while others who were not favoured  grumble that the former Governor’s aide smuggled in fake names of people who never attended the training. While briefing newsmen in Awka, the Special Assistant to the former Governor, Hon. Nduka debunked the allegation describing them as baseless, unfounded, null and void. He explained that those circulating the rumour are not Anambra youths but overzealous politicians who want to dent his image. “I want to categorically state that all these rumours are baseless and unfounded. Those circulating the rumour want to tarnish my image and rubbish my political ambition as most of the said youths did not even attend the empowerment training but want to take home money. We disbursed the money according to the directives given by the former Gov. Peter Obi and we worked with their Local Government Coordinators. As I speak to you, I am sure that the 98 percent of the youths who attended the training have all gotten their cheques, the remaining two percent have some issues either with their names or with their address or proposal which I am sure we will ratify today and settle everybody that his or her name appeared on our list” I did my work diligently to ensure that we curb crime rate by engaging the youths meaningfully and some people are not happy because they are wondering how I used my little office as SA to the Governor to attract such empowerment fund.  I have appealed to the remaining people who were not captured in the first batch to exercise patient as our youth friendly Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has promised to continue the empowerment” he said. Alor also savoured the opportunity to call on the youths who have been empowered to make judicious use of the empowerment fund as he has concluded plans by his team to kick start Local Government monitoring of what the youths established with the fund according to the approved business plan stressing that anybody that diverts the fund will be seriously dealt with by the Government, even as he thanked the youths who worked with him since August 2012 when he was appointed Special aid to the Governor. He however congratulated the new Governor, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano  on his inauguration as the Executive Governor of Anambra State, urging him to savour the historic and laudable opportunity to continue with the programme of improving the well being of Ndi-Anambra. “I also salute the out-gone governor, Chief Peter Obi CON for all his accomplishments and for leaving footprint in the sands of time in Anambra State and by extension