Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has denied the report that he sacked his spokesperson Anietie Ekong over “Ghana Must Go” as being peddled by some online medium
Akpabio in a statement by the newly appointed Chief Press Secretary Jackson Udom said Ekong was reassigned and not sacked
The Minister however wonder why reassigning an office holder by his employer should be interpreted to mean sack.
The lettter reads further “But for the unsuspecting members of the public, who would have been fed with this outright lies and blackmail, we wouldn’t have dignified the sponsored news with our response.
“To put the record straight, Anietie Ekong was never on the entourage of the Hon Minister, during his visit to Niger Delta Region, how could he have been sacked because of “Ghana Must Go” bags, that purportedly conveyed funds that was used to settle Tompolo?
“It is, therefore, the height of irresponsibility and mischief for a media outfit to claim that the contents of the bags that were given to the people were stashed with money meant Niger Delta Leaders.
“Such spurious claim is an insult on the stakeholders for anyone to have belittle them to cash. It is good to point out that they are wealthy people and can not be bought over with money. They believe in the development of the Region and did not spare a thought in airing their opinions to their son, the Hon. Minister
“We, therefore, call on members of the public, to disregard such spurious and paid stories which are intended to rubbish the achievement of peace in the Niger Delta, region which the minister is totally committed to.
“Those allegations, to say the least, exist only in the minds of the purveyors and sponsors of such baseless stories.
Akpabio insisted that “No money was given to any stakeholder in sueing for peace for the region as all agreed that peace in the Niger Delta Region is non negotiable.
“The sincerity in pursuing peace in the Niger Delta Region as displayed by Mr President through his Minister, Senator Akpabio, conferred on both votes of Confidence from the stakeholders”
“It would be recalled that the Honorable Minister met with the King of Gbaramatu Kingdom with other kings from the Niger Delta Region. He also met with the leaders of Itsekiri, Urhobo, nationalities, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Olu of Warri and visited the Olu of Warri Designate. He also met with Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, their illustrious son, and left through the creeks all in his bid at fostering peace in Niger Delta Region.
No amount of blackmail, lies and name calling, will deter the Honorable Minister from achieving the mandate of President Mohammadu Buhari for the people of the region. He concluded
