Mr. Gideon Nwaomu is the CEO/MD of the popular first drinking spot in Asaba, capital of Delta state established for over a decade now. The business structure was on Tuesday, 15th, November, 2011 brought down with bulldozers by the Delta state Task Force on Flood Control and Removal of Illegal Structures under orders of the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. In this mind blowing interview with our correspondent, Mr. Nwaomu, former state chairman of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) broke the silence describing the governor as a liar.
Excerpt:
Sir, let meet you.
I am Mr. Nwaomu, a Deltan, CEO/MD Giddy’s Place, the first ever popular drinking and relaxation spot established several years ago in the heart of Asaba, the capital city of Delta state. I was also the former state chairman of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN)
Sometime in November, 15th, 2011 your business was demolished by the state governor under the instructions of the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan whom we learnt before now was your close friend?
Yes my business empire, the GIDDY’S PLACE was demolished but please I don’t want us talk about it cause the matter is already before a competent court of law. Thank you.
Ok sir, but we heard the governor saying during a phone-in-programme that the place was not for business but for residential and you went ahead to turn it into a business place. Again, during that programme, the governor did say the state government sponsored your medical treatment to abroad please what can you say about all these issues?
Yes, the Phone-in-programme was held in Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Warri on Saturday, November, 26th, 2011 and an excerpt from the programme was published on Monday, December, 5th, 2011 edition of the state owned newspapers, The Pointer Newspaper and the governor was quoted as saying “Firstly, the approval given to that land was for a residential building and not for a night club but the person turned it into a night club and instead of it becoming a place where people dine and dance, it became a den for armed robbers where they meet to plan their operations. I also read in the papers that the owner called me on phone and was unable to get me. The last time I saw him was three years ago when he had an accident and the state government sponsored his medical trip abroad. So, you can see that this not political because if it is political, the state government would not have sponsored him abroad for his medical treatment. We cannot allow these places to exist. Any place that people have turned to where armed robbers meet, the police have been given instructions to take over such places and the owners and workers there will be arrested and prosecuted.”
I want to tell you that the governor is a liar, he is lying, he cannot say the last time he saw me was three years ago when I had an accident. He cannot say he didn’t see me, I was with him last year, precisely the day Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, the former CEO/MD of Oceanic Bank was convicted, if I am not mistaken, it was July, 6th, 2010 and I was in company of Charly Boy who interviewed the governor. The interview was conducted by Charly Boy and Mr. Suuny Ogefere, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, even Paul Odili, communication manager to the governor was also present with us too. So, he cannot say he saw me in three years ago. I cannot imagine how a whole governor of his caliber will be lying. I repeat, governor Uduaghan, saw me last year in his office in company of Charly Boy and his media aides I have mentioned above. I want to correct one impression about my treatment abroad, governor Uduaghan keep on talking about my treatment in abroad, he gave me money, that he sponsored me. I want to ask was the money his personal money, for Christ sake, I am a Deltan who was in need of assistance for his medical treatment. I appealed for 54 thousand dollar which was equivalent to I8 million naira then, but from the coffer of Delta state, I was given N2million only. I decided that this issue should be addressed once and for all so that Deltans are not misled as always. I want to ask, if there were such medical facilities in Delta state, I wouldn’t have gone to the Apollo Hospital, New Delly in India and because such facilities were not on ground than pages of newspapers, radio and TV despite all the huge allocations of billions of naira, I have to find my way to India. I really get annoyed and upset whenever the governor and his cohorts tell people that I was sponsored, I was sponsored to abroad for medical treatment. I want to ask am I not a Deltan? Was the money his personal money? As a tax payer, I think I should have some sort of privileges and rights like every other citizen of Delta state. Has the governor ever mentioned other persons whom the state had assisted for their medical treatments abroad? You and I know some of these people, even those who got far far above what I was given. Why always talking about my sponsorship to abroad for treatment. Don’t forget I was also having some monies of my own and other persons, well-wishers, friends and political associates also assisted me together with the N2 million naira state government assistance which has now turned to personal money.
The governor has always told people that Giddy’s Place was a criminal hid out where armed robbers plan their operations and I laughed. Uduaghan becoming a governor in 2007 started from this Giddy’s place that has all of a sudden turned a den of criminals. People can ask the likes of Chief (Engr.) Sobotie; ask Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen and so many others names I may not mention. Even the former governor, Chief James Ibori and the current governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan including past and current commissioners were all regular guests at Giddy’s place which has turn to a den of criminal.
Sir, how would you describe the whole incident mostly when it was said that you and the governor were best of friends?
The issue here is that without mincing words its pure political victimization. I am been victimized politically, because I pledged my total supports for Chief Great Ogboru, governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) who has a sincere vision for Deltans. I can tell you wholeheartedly that I have my Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, of that very land with the following number, DTSR 1034, Ref No LA/ A /1738/11, dated October 7, 1997, signed by P. E. Ebitomno (Mrs.) originated from the Military Administrator’s Office, Director of Lands and Survey. Similarly, the Deed of Re-assignment between Izeh (assigner) and I Mr. Gideon Nwaomu (assignee), prepared by D. O. Nwanokwai, a legal practitioner, is here with me. Uduaghan is victimizing me because I am supporting Great Ogboru his opponent and that is the bottom truth.
As I said earlier, the matter is already before a competent court of law and I wouldn’t want us to talk about it but I am very convinced that the court as the last hope of the common man, justice must surely be done to this issue. I have always said it that the man who is on ground already, fears no fall anymore and I am always happy that man is not God.
