Developing Story: We Have No Beef With Wike – NDDC
• Says alleged conflict between NDDC MD and FCT Minister is false
By PHC Telegraph
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC has denied reports that a rift exists between the Managing Director, Sam Ogbuku and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In statement, the Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson Wakama said there is no iota of truth in a report which is claiming that frosty relations exists between both men
“The attention of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has been brought to reports circulating in online media platforms under a mischievous headline: “Uproar in NDDC As Ogbuku, Wike Fight Dirty.”
“Nothing can be farther from the truth. We are, therefore, constrained to respond to the false story claiming that “there is rumbling in the Commission following the jostle for the position of the Managing Director currently occupied by Dr Samuel Ogbuku”, the statement disclosed.
The NDDC explained that its Managing Director and all who are part of the team enjoy cordial relationships with all stakeholders, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“To set the records straight, the NDDC Managing Director has a very cordial relationship not only with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is representing the region very well at the Federal Executive Council, FEC, but also with all the leaders and key stakeholders in Niger Delta region.
“Obviously, the fake news reported on online media platforms is masterminded by those who want to create confusion among the NDDC board members and pit the MD against the FCT Minister”, the statement said.
It also revealed that there are surreptitious attempts by those behind the spread of false information to drag in the names of two prominent Niger Deltans into the fray.
They are the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori.
“We also know”, the statement noted, “that the perpetrators are attempting to drag the Senate President, His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio, into the phantom fray to present a crisis scenario in the NDDC and the entire region.
“The same group of people who see nothing good in the region are also peddling the rumour that Chief James Ibori is also running for the position of Managing Director of NDDC.”
Urging members of the public to disregard “the false stories spread by mischief makers”, the NDDC insisted that the aim of the masterminds of the report is “to derail the various innovations introduced by the NDDC Board and Management under the Chairman, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, and the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.”
The statement further stated, “It is rather curious that at a time the NDDC is busy pursuing innovative policies aimed at delivering services more efficiently to the people of the Niger Delta, some misguided and self-seeking individuals appear intent on distracting the Commission.
“It is disturbing that those who could rightly be described as the enemies of progress are concocting false narratives to the effect that the tenure of the NDDC board was ending.
“From all indications, those spreading this falsehood are all out to truncate the tenure of the NDDC Board, apparently because they are not happy that the board members are working harmoniously to deliver on the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the people of the Niger Delta region.
“The truth, however, is that the current NDDC Governing Board was appointed for a four-year tenure, which started counting from August 29, 2023.”
Somehow, the NDDC did not respond directly to the allegation contained in the alleged fake report suggesting that funds from its coffers had been used to sustain lawmakers from Rivers State who are fighting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.