Re: NDDC rejecting our hand of friendship, says Akwa Ibom government

Our attention, as the Central Planning Committee for the recent thanksgiving service of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission
(NDDC), Sir Nsima Ekere, has been drawn to a statement by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Udoh, In the statement, Mr.
Udoh wrongly accused Sir Ekere of not affixing “His Excellency” to the name of Governor Udom Emmanuel and for not using the official portrait of the Governor in the programme.

Ordinarily, we would not have bothered to respond to this accusation. But for the benefit of the public, who may be misled, we have to issue this statement.

One, the omission of “His Excellency” from the Governor’s name was a mistake on the part of the printer. As a committee, we take responsibility and
regret this mistake.

Two, the accusation that the Governor’s wrong photograph was used is baffling because it is the same photograph we have seen used severally in State
Government programmes.

Three, it is wrong to impute that Sir Ekere demeaned the office of Governor. We are aware that the Sir Ekere holds the office of Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the eight other member-states of NDDC in high esteem.

That was why we sent two official invitations to the Governor for the thanksgiving service and Sir Ekere
followed up by personally calling the Governor to invite him. We are aware that the Governor promised to attend the event.

Why the Governor neither attended
the event nor sent any representative, unlike his counterparts in the Niger Delta region, is not known to us.

Certainly, it could not have been because of the omission of “His Excellency” from his name and non- usage of a particular photograph.

Sir Ekere had given the committee firm instruction that he wanted to thank God for His bountiful blessings on him and his family and nothing more.

He insisted that no political or social group be allowed to hoist any banner or
poster within the area. We followed his instructions to the letter. It is, therefore, amusing to see this needless and unsuccessful attempt to politicize the thanksgiving service.

As a committee, we want to seize this opportunity to thank the people of Akwa Ibom State, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole for their huge turnout for the service.

As former Governor Victor Attah stated at the event, it was “…the outpouring of support for a man who has successfully restructured NDDC.”

Above all, we thank God for the success of the service.

This is our last statement on this issue as we do not want to be drawn into any controversy.

Hon. Akpan Micah Umoh (PhD)
Former Member of House of Representatives and Chairman of Central Planning Committee for the
Thanksgiving Service