…From ₦65B to ₦115B: How Presidential Budget Increase Failed to Benefit Niger Delta Delegates
Apostle Comrade Daniel Ezekiel Perela has raised serious questions over the financial management of public funds, asking how Dennis spent 161 billion Naira since taking office.
Perela emphasized that holding public office is a duty of service rather than a private business or family inheritance, warning that government institutions must not be run like secret societies and demanding full transparency and accountability.
According to Perela, Dennis previously complained to him about a shortage of funds that was allegedly blocking his vision for the program. As a fellow comrade, Perela supported him, believing Dennis was focused on the welfare of the delegates.
Following Perela’s advocacy efforts, the President increased the program’s yearly budget from 65 billion Naira to 115 billion Naira.
However, rather than using the extra funding to increase the stipends paid to the delegates as expected, Dennis is accused of spending funds recklessly on weekly fetish and juju festivals in Gbaramatu, which Perela stated provide no value to the local community or the broader Izon Nation.
Perela claims that since the budget increase was approved, a total sum of 1.5 trillion Naira has passed to Dennis, yet no tangible results have been delivered to match these vast amounts.
He added that Dennis has introduced no meaningful improvements compared to his predecessors, specifically highlighting Kingsley Kuku, who Perela says achieved far better results on a much smaller annual budget of 65 billion Naira.
Under Kuku, the program consistently provided local and foreign academic scholarships, steady leadership, vocational training, and prompt stipend payments.
Addressing supporters who praise Dennis for bringing reform, Perela dismissed those claims, arguing that these supporters fail to understand what true reform means.
He stated that under Dennis, legitimate empowerment initiatives have been replaced by ineffective leadership training programs that serve as a payment channel to fund Tompolo’s personal lifestyle, while stipend payments to delegates are continuously delayed.
Despite what Perela describes as a complete failure, he noted that Dennis is currently lobbying influential individuals close to the President in an attempt to secure a re-appointment.
Perela concluded by demanding a clear public accounting of how the 161 billion Naira received during Dennis’s tenure was utilized.