The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) chaired by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba has distanced itself from a statement criticising statements made by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, during the visit of the Governing Board of the NDDC to Government House, Port Harcourt.

According to Ceoafrica, one Barrister Chizy Enyi, media aide to Hon. Charles Anyanwu, the senior special assistant on Youth Affairs to the NDDC Managing Director, had condemned Wike’s insistence that the commission must consult state government before embarking on developmental projects in the respective states.

The head, Corporate Affairs, NDDC, Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, described the statement of Enyi as unbecoming, embarrassing and wholly mischievous report, adding that the commission does not know the said media aide.

Amu-Nnadi said, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement by one Barrister Chizy Enyi, which is being reported by the news media, in which he criticised statements by the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Barrister Nyesom Wike, during the courtesy visit by the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), at Government House Port Harcourt.

“The Niger Delta Development Commission wishes to completely, and without reservations, dissociates itself, as well as its Governing Board and Management, from that unbecoming, embarrassing and wholly mischievous report.

“The Commission does not know this individual, purporting himself to be the ”Chief Press Secretary” to a certain “Senior Special Assistant” to the Managing Director/CEO of the Commission, Nsima Ekere.

“There are no such positions known to, and recognised by, the Commission. The Head, Corporate Affairs of NDDC remains the only officer authorised to speak on behalf of the Commission.

“We find in this very embarrassing report the clandestine activity of very unlearned and mischievous characters bent on tarnishing the richly rewarding interaction between Governor Wike and the Governing Board of the Commission and condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Niger Delta Development Commission shared a very warm, enlightening and important time at Government House Port Harcourt on Friday, January 27, 2017, and wishes to reiterate that it conveyed all that it needed to convey to the Government of Rivers State and wishes to, once more, convey its deepest appreciation to Governor Wike for being a gracious and accommodating host.

“The commitment of the Commission towards reactivating all channels, instruments of, and platforms for, cooperation with all the State Governments of the Niger Delta Delta region, particularly the Advisory Council of Governors, remains unwavering and will not be derailed by the malicious attempts of mischief makers and enemies of progress.

“The task of developing the Niger Delta region is not one to be toyed with, nor left to the manipulation of such characters. It is a duty to which the Governing Board and Management of the Commission remain inexorably tied and committed, pursuant to its Mandate, because the people of this great region deserve no less”.