CALABAR – The Cross River State Consultant of the Niger Delta Improvement Fee (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, has denied involvement in an inventory circulating on-line, which purportedly names beneficiaries of the NDDC Christmas Bonus for teams within the state.
In an official assertion launched on Monday, twenty seventh January 2025, Duke dismissed the checklist as pretend, stating that it neither originated from him nor his workplace.
He alleged that the venture, earmarked to learn 50 teams throughout Cross River State with a complete of ₦100 million, had been taken over by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing the Southern Senatorial District.
In keeping with Duke, the ₦100 million fund was supposed to distribute ₦2 million to every of the 50 teams throughout the three senatorial districts. Nevertheless, he accused Senator Ekpenyong of taking management of the funds with out session.
“For the information, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong is presently holding the ₦100 million launched by the NDDC for teenagers and ladies throughout the three senatorial zones of Cross River State,” he mentioned.
Duke criticised the senator’s alleged actions, describing them as overreach and calling for the publication of the complete checklist of beneficiaries for transparency.
“I problem the publishers of the checklist to make public the small print of the 50 teams that had been supposed to learn from the venture, together with their names, account numbers, cellphone numbers, and names of beneficiaries,” he added.
The NDDC consultant additionally famous that whereas two of the teams on the circulating checklist are affiliated with a cultural organisation he coordinates, he neither submitted their names nor approved the checklist’s launch.
Duke additional accused Senator Ekpenyong of interfering in his tasks because the NDDC consultant for Cross River State, urging the senator to give attention to securing advantages for the state from throughout the Niger Delta area, fairly than concentrating on funds allotted inside the state.
He known as on political actors to chorus from politicising the matter, emphasising the necessity for collaboration to make sure the honest and equitable distribution of sources to Cross Riverians.
“Our collective aim needs to be to empower Cross Riverians and make sure the honest distribution of advantages that rightfully belong to them,” he said.
The controversy over the NDDC Christmas Bonus highlights the continuing challenges of accountability and equitable useful resource distribution within the state.
Efforts to achieve Sen. Ekpenyong for feedback proved abortive as he didn’t take his calls on the time of this report. Nevertheless, Converseer will deliver his response to the forefront as soon as he responds to the allegations.
