It
has been uncovered that most of the mouth-watering contracts promised to APC
supporters from the Niger Delta Development Commission, are fake.
In a press statement, the commission’s Director of
Corporate Affairs, Ibitoye Abosede, distanced the NDDC from the enticing
contracts awards papers in the hands of some die-hard supporters, saying they
were all scams.
The statement reads in part, “the NDDC is aware of a
ploy by certain individuals who promise to award contracts to some members of
the public in return of certain favours.”
The statement noted that the commission is on course
to track down people who are acting as surrogates of the commission and issuing
fake contract papers to the public. The “fraudsters” have promised
mouth-watering deals running into millions of naira and thousands of dollars.
The NDDC also stated that, the commission does not
award contracts in dollars as promised to some members of the public. And the
commission too does not award any contract without clearly stating the project
type, title, location and value of the contract in naira.
Furthermore, the commission has asked members of the
public to be wary of any person or group of persons promising any contract in
the name of the NDDC, or confirm such offers at any of the commission’s office
in the nine states of operation.
This news has destabilized the APC support structure
in Akwa Ibom whom many of her supports hold varying copies of document in
contract with the NDDC.
Upon investigation and interaction with sources, it is
revealed that the few supporters that are still keeping faith with the party
are doing so in hope of landing contracts or cashing in on contract document
held with the NDDC once the budget is cleared. Funding is one of the bane at
APC as many of her grassroot supporters have decamped to the PDP with a lot of
complains of deceit and impunity in the APC. This position has been reaffirmed
by the state chairman of the party; Amadu Attai who complained at the Zonal
Executive meeting in Uyo, that funding has been a major challenge of the party.
“Funding has remained one of the greatest challenges
of this chapter of the party. We do not receive any form of assistance or
contribution from the national party and government. Akwa Ibom chapter has
remained perennially under financial stress to meet its obligations... the
party has managed to remain afloat and sustain its activities through the
support of members and goodwill of its functionaries,” he said.
In recent weeks, there has been massive defection of
the APC stalwarts to the PDP,following what analysts describe as the limited
prospects in the state opposition party, ranging from failed contracts, and
internal crises.
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