Don’t be distracted, Frank, group tell NDDC IMC

 Tony Akowe and Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Publicity, Comrade Timi Frank, on Sunday urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Interim Management Committee (IMC) not to be distracted in the bid to sanitise the agency.

He urged the Acting NDDC Managing Director Dr Joi Nunieh not yield to efforts by corrupt politicians and contractors to blackmail her.

Frank challenged those he called “faceless groups” behind insinuations that Nunieh is parading a fake certificate to publish their facts if any.

He said in a statement: “It is very sad that Niger Deltans, especially some youths, have allowed themselves to be misled by corrupt politicians and contractors who have been syphoning the patrimony of the Niger Delta through the NDDC.

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“These corrupt politicians and contractors are enemies of the Niger Delta; they don’t want change; they want the status quo to remain so they can continue to fritter our wealth away, hence the campaign of calumny against Dr Joy Nunieh.

“They have thrown caution to the wind and are churning out outright lies through their proxies, hoping that their lies will stick in an effort to put a stop to the forensic audit that is being carried out in the NDDC.

“Dr Nunieh must not relent; this forensic audit must be completed and those found wanting must be made to pay the price as a deterrent to others.

“These corrupt politicians and contractors whose stock in trade is to get jobs from NDDC and after mobilisation, abscond and abandon the project, have tried to compromise her to no avail.

“They have now resorted to outright propaganda, blackmail and threat to her life, all in a bid to dissuade her from carrying out her mandate. They claim that her certificate is fake.”