Unscrupulous elements try to cause more crisis in Niger Delta – Niger Delta minister

Abiodun OBA

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Umana Umana, has alleged that some unscrupulous elements are trying to cause more crisis in the Niger Delta.

Umana made the allegation while clarifying his stand on the purported allegation against him that he planned to counter President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the forensic audit of the operations of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

In a statement in Abuja by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Ms. Patricia Deworitshe, the minister said there was no truth in the claim.

It will be recalled that a national newspaper had alleged that there was a plot by the minister to halt the phased implementation of the forensic audit report of the NDDC as directed by President Buhari in order to pave way for a review of the recommendations.

The statement said: “The attention of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana, has been drawn to a news report in a national newspaper, which claimed that President Buhari and Mr. Umana have divergent positions on the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the forensic audit of the operations of the NDDC.

“The news report is completely untrue and, therefore, misleading. There is no basis for any claim that the minister has a position on the forensic audit report that is different from that of the President.

“All stakeholders in the development of the Niger Delta and the public at large are hereby advised to disregard the said news report as totally untrue and baseless.”