My attention has been drawn to an online publication thenewspanorama of 2nd June, 2020 wherein I was said to have demanded money from His Excellency, The Senate President and criticized the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Comrade Adams Oshiomhole over my appointment as NDDC Board Chairman Designate
I want to state categorically that the said online news is a figment of the imagination of the writers and not scintilla of truth is contained therein. Rather it is and will remain a malicious publication orchestrated by political foes who are bent on painting me in bad light before these eminent National Leaders of our party and government.
For the avoidance of doubt, when I was appointed Chairman designate of the NDDC board along with other members of the board in August 2019 up until we were Screened and confirmed by the Senate and even until now I never met the Senate President nor gave any money to anyone to facilitate our Screening and confirmation.
I have the greatest respect for the Senate President who I have been privilege to serve with in the House of Representatives and cannot do anything that will bring his person and office into disrepute.
In the same vein , I wish to State unequivocally that the National Chairman of APC and my boss Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has my greatest loyalty and regards. I have never and will not have any reason whatsoever to give him any money to facilitate appointment or my confirmation in the Senate. I was his Deputy from 2008 to 2016 and I thank God for the privilege I had to work with him. I will therefore have no reason to disparage him or his person. His role in my appointment as Chairman Designate NDDC was purely based on his belief in my person and his commitment to the development of the Niger Delta.
I must place on record the invaluable position and role of the Deputy Senate President Senate Ovie Omo Agege in the process of appointment, screening and confirmation of the NDDC Board in 2019. At no time did I or any member of the board offered or gave any money to him to facilitate our screening and confirmation.
Let me state that those who are seeking to get appointed into NDDC board should embark on the process with the fear of God and refrain from attempting to pull others down in furtherance of their inordinate ambitions.
All through my years of service I have been driven by the strong desire to contribute maximally to the development of my country and by extension the Niger Delta region. This has been more reinforced by Mr President’s commitment to the change in the narratives of the Niger Delta.
I therefore wish to thank Mr President in whose Presidential Campaign Council in 2019, I was Director of Logistics for considering myself and other members that was appointed by him into NDDC Board in 2019.
I remain a committed and loyal member of the All Progressives Congress and I wish to extend my sincere apologies to the Distinguished Senate President, Distinguished Deputy Senate President and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress for the embarrassment this false publication may have caused them.
In the meantime I have instructed my Solicitors to write to the Publishers of thenewspanorama to retract the said publication and tender unreserved apologies to these leaders and myself for this offensive publication or face Legal consequences.
H. E, Dr Pius E.Odubu, MHR
Former Deputy Governor
Edo State.