The Niger Delta Vanguard on Monday claimed that disgruntled employees were behind last Monday’s protest against the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC), Ahmed Dikko.

Protesters under the aegis of Coalition of Niger Delta Youths gathered at the company’s gate and demanded Dikko’s removal.

But the Niger Delta Vanguard alleged that the demonstration was sponsored by “disgruntled and overambitious” Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) officials.

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It made the claims in a statement by the President of its Eleme chapter, Gomba Osaro Yimeochen.

Yimeochen insisted that Eleme people were civilised and not against anybody occupying the position of a managing director.

His group, he added, was always “poised for dialogue and engagement” rather than engaging in what he described as “fee-paying protest”, which he accused the sponsors of doing.

The Niger Delta Vanguard staged a counter-protest last Thursday to drive home its support for the ongoing rehabilitation of the company, insisting that it was not interested in management change.