365Daily – The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has denied sacking his erstwhile Chief Press Secretary, Anietie Ekong, over photos of cash in “Ghana Must Go” bags during his visit to ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo).
According to the Minister, his former Chief Press Secretary was merely reassigned to a different portfolio.
365Daily recalls that Akapbio, on Thursday, June 3, 2021, visited Tompolo in Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State, South-South Nigeria.
The visit was reportedly to avert another crisis in the region that oils the nation’s economy.
Senator Akpabio, who had landed at Osubi Airstrip, Warri, was ferried to the creek via a speedboat with security details from the Army, Navy and DSS.
In a statement issued by his new Chief Press Secretary, Jackson Udom, Akpabio said Ekong was not even among his entourage that visited Tompolo when the team from the Ministry went round to meet stakeholders.
He said that the allegation was false and a figment of the imagination of the author or its sponsors.
Udom said the alleged ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag couldn’t have been stashed with cash for distribution in the Niger Delta peace process in which stakeholders were committed in good faith.
“The attention of the Honorable Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has been drawn to a mischievous and ill conceived publication by an online media, purporting that the erstwhile Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Anietie Ekong was sacked from office over ‘Ghana Must Go’.
“We are not sure the online news platform that allowed itself to be used for this mischief truly understood the difference between SACKED and RE ASSIGNED before rushing to please its pay master.
“Ekong, according to the letter relieving him of his position as CPS, was not sacked but reassigned. We, therefore, wonder why reassigning an office holder by his employer should be interpreted to mean a sack.
“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 content of the bags given to the people was money meant for 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 mnot 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 publi, 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 assured that the government was focused on consolidating the peace in the region through the engagement with monarchs, community leaders and other stakeholders, as mandated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“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 and 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.
“Therefore, no amount of blackmail, lies and name calling will deter the Honourable Minister from achieving the mandate of President Mohammadu Buhari for the people of the region.”