I DON'T OWN A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE ― OGOR

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Leo Ogor has reacted to a malicious publication by Saharareporters to the effect that he has diverted funds meant for Constituency Projects to build a multi million dollar house at Apo Legislative Quarters and a multi billion naira country home at Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

In a statement by his Press Secretary, Mike Akpodhoma, Hon. Ogor said he does not own any multi million dollar house as erroneously and maliciously published by Saharareporters and demands an apology from the online news medium for trying to impugn his hard earned reputation over the years.

The statement reads: "Our attention has been drawn to a malicious photo publication by Saharareporters with an intent to malign the distinguished lawmaker against the people of Nigeria and the world in general.

"The Publication included the lawmaker's Abuja home at Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja and his Ozoro Country Home in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State was allegedly reported to be worth millions of dollars and billions of Naira and allegedly built from proceeds of diverted Constituency Projects.

"For the records, Rt. Hon. Leo Ogor does not own any property any where worth millions of dollars or billions of Naira as maliciously stated in the report.
"The said Abuja Home at Apo Legislative Quarters was the official apartment which is a 4 bedroom duplex and was sold to the lawmakers including Hon. Leo Ogor in 2004 by the Obasanjo administration. The House was sold to the lawmakers at a cost of N11m which he recently rehabilitated in 2015 after 11 years.

"As for the Ozoro Country home, it was built on the minority leader's ancestral land and the blocks were moulded by local masons while the building itself took well over 9 years to complete. The building whose gates are continually opened for constituents and guests without any form of restriction is not worth billions as allegedly stated.

" While the property is well ardoned with green lawns, giving an aesthetic effect, it still does not come near what the property was said to be worth.
"Besides, he had been in private business prior to his venture into active politics in 2003 and apart from his first house in Ozoro which was built in 1984, he does not own any property elsewhere.

"The said houses are not worth millions of dollars or billions as claimed by Saharareporters and he is willing to accept an offer of purchase  from the online medium if they are able to come up with anyone willing to buy the same house  at the same multi million dollar valuation if they truly think it is worth that amount.

"As for three Range Rovers which they claimed he bought at once, nothing can be further from the truth. Hon Ogor  bought the first Range Rover seven years ago,  the second one two years ago.

The National Assembly has repeatedly counselled against the erroneous impression that Constituency Projects are under the control of the lawmakers. This is outright falsehood as they do not have such powers to collect money allocated for constituency projects or award any contract. Such projects are actually executed by different Ministries, Departments and Agencies which also determine who gets the contracts.

"It is instructive however to note that over the years Hon Leo Ogor as a true representative of his people, has delivered several projects to ameliorate the sufferings of his people. The recent distribution of free educational materials to his constituents is a pointer to his good quality representation courtesy of Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC.

"The renovation of several dilapidated primary and secondary schools across Isoko Federal constituency of which have been completed by UBEC is another pointer to the fact that he does not have anything to do with diversion of constituency project fund.

"only recently, the minority leader provided Hilux Vans to Vigilantee groups in all the 24 Wards in the Isoko Federal Constituency. This is apart from influencing the  Niger Delta Development commission (NDDC), to construct township roads, schools, bridges, street lights, etc.

" Prominent among them is the construction of Enwhe bridge, Oyede township roads,  streetlights in Oleh, Emede, Ozoro, Oyede among many others.
"Against this back drop, Rt. Hon Leo Ogor thanks his constituents and numerous Nigerians who have  stood firmly to defend the truth and refused to be misinformed by the mendacious antics of Saharareporters."

"Conclusively, we wish to state that the offensive publication was procured by opponents seeking cheap political points and Saharareporters has always been willing tools to be used by elements.

"Hwever our advice to them is that they should, as professionals, diligently confirm from their respondents in the best tradition of good journalism to avoid bias and not to be used as willing tools to pull down respected Nigerian.
"Hon. Ogor has a soaring political profile that his opponents, mostl political neophytes are afraid of.  Saharareporters should be wary of such sadistic and rumour-hungry politicians for the sake of  individuals who consider  reports on their website as authentic."

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