Senator Samuel Anyanwu has refuted claims by the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Godswill Akpabio that he was one of the lawmakers that benefited from NDDC contracts. Sam Daddy as he is popularly called made this known during a press briefing with newsmen in Abuja. The senator who represented Imo East in the 8th Assembly Senate was not happy that his good name has been dragged to the mud by Akpabio. He expressed shock that the minister could concoct such lies against his person.
“Ordinarily, I would not have bothered to call a press conference on this NDDC issue but because I am a politician and a prominent one for that matter in my state and Nigeria, I have decided to clear the air on the allegation of benefiting from NDDC contracts.
First of all, I was so shocked to see my name in the list of beneficiaries. I was shocked that the honourable minister of Niger-Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio mentioned my name as one of those awarded contracts in NDDC. I feel that is a very cheap way of scoring political point. I am from Imo State which is one of the Oil producing states and a member of the Niger Delta. I have an attachment to my people. I was a member of committee on Niger Delta affairs in the senate. We were over 18 members in that committee. Godswill Akpabio was also a member of the committee at the time.” Said Senator Anyanwu. He also went on to disclose that Oil was first discovered in Imo State.
“In fact, Oil was first discovered in Nigeria in my constituency,Iho Ikeduru LGA to be precise in Imo State in 1946 before Oloibiri and otherplaces. That is why we have Shell Camp in Owerri Imo State. The white man leftOwerri because they said oil is not in commercial quantity in Imo State. Theymoved to Oloibiri and started oil exploration. Even as a State House of Assemblymember, I moved a motion for Shell BP to set up a tourism center at the placewhere oil was first discovered in Nigeria. As a member of the committee onNiger Delta, I attracted projects to Imo East senatorial zone.” The formergovernorship contestant in Imo State also stated his own side of NDDC contractallegation.
“No contract was ever awarded to me. The beneficiariesof these projects are my people whom I represent. I challenge Akpabio and NDDCto go through their records and see whether any contract was awarded to me. Thereis no dime traceable to me at NDDC. It is very disheartening. Akpabio hasaccused me falsely and as a politician, this maybe used as a politicalmechanism to work against me by my enemies. That is why I feel very bad on thisissue and feel I should call the media and clear the air and give my own sideof the story. Most of the contracts I attracted to my senatorial zone have notbeen paid for nor completed. The contractors are still being owed by NDDC. I haveit on good authority that NDDC does not give mobilization for any project. Istand to be corrected.
I want to use this medium to call on NDDC to come tomy senatorial zone and complete the projects they started. Somebody told me thatNDDC is doing forensic audit and therefore all contracts are pending.
I believe the honourable minister is a well-educated lawyer. Let us see the contracts, the projects, the name of the companies and the banks where the monies were paid. The Corporate Affairs Commission is there to confirm the company board of directors. Why is Akpabio insulting me? I have left the senate in the last two years and I am managing my quiet life. If you have issues with the National Assembly members, why are you dragging my good name into it? Or is it because of our position with Saraki that we are suffering? I feel very hurt. I have tried calling Akpabio several times but he is not picking my calls. I wanted to confront him first before going to press. I will seek legal redress to clear my name. My lawyers will write Akpabio in the next couple of days”
It will be recalled that the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) going on at the National Assembly has been enmeshed in controversy since the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio announced the names of National Assembly members who benefited from the NDDC contracts.