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| Nyesom Wike |
RIVERS state governor, Nyesom Wike
has refuted claims by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) listing him among the sponsors
of its operations in the region.
In a statement by his spokesman
Simeon Nwakandu, Wike described the claims as baseless and unfounded adding
that his alleged link to the group is simply false media propaganda.
“Our attention has been drawn to
yet another false media propaganda wherein it was claimed that Rivers State
Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is one of the sponsors of the militant group, the
Niger Delta Avengers. We unequivocally deny this false report which was
fabricated with the aim of diverting attention from the superlative performance
of Governor Wike...
“Any close observer of this propaganda
machine would have noticed that all they do is concoct lies about Rivers
State. We urge all well-meaning persons to disregard this current falsehood
credited to a faceless splinter group of NDA.
“This falsehood may not be unconnected
to Governor Wike’s speech at the just-concluded conference of the Nigerian
Guild of Editors where he publicly declared that he and other stakeholders in
the state have prevented militant groups from sabotaging oil installations as
is the case elsewhere. Not happy with this declaration, they resolved to
concoct another ill-conceived report trying to mislead the people.
”Nigerians already know what these
propagandists represent. They represent retrogression, deliberate falsehood,
under-development and biased unprofessional journalism.
”Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is a
patriotic leader, committed to the sustenance and improvement of the nation’s
democracy and economy. He is a promoter of security and good
governance. He cannot be disparaged by concocted publications from APC
media agents”, Nwakandu said.
The denial followed a statement by
a splinter NDA, the Reform Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) through its
spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, which listed President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor
Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and other prominent
leaders from the region as NDA sponsors.
