Politicians have been told to desist from serially blackmailing the boss of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote whenever it is time for elections in the state.
The call was made by the Executive Director, Operations on Thursday, via a statement signed by Mr Igho Derek and made available to Quick News Africa.
Derek said the group decided to wade into the “serial blackmailing”, because it could cost him the appointment which he got from the Federal Government on merit.
Mr. Derek said it had become unsettling to “sit idle and watch” Wabote’s reputation built over many years of hard work and self-discipline take a hit and be rubbished on the altar of political expediency.
Mr. Igho Derek counselled political office-seekers to be “ready and willing to canvass votes based on what they have to offer” the people and not seek to “distract the people through the introduction of extraneous issues that have nothing to do with the welfare” of the electorate.
“Records show that, in the recent past, it was the presidential, national and state assemblies and later governorship elections that provided the platform for the vilification of Engr. Wabote and NCDMB. Now, with the possible re-run elections to fill vacant senatorial seats in Bayelsa State, the fairy-tale merchants are back at work with the same old strategy. What alarmed us this time is the viciousness of the attack which surpasses previous ones, though using same story-line.
“Their story this time around is that the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva is black-mailing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote to release the sum of $20m to help fund the APC in the re-run Senatorial elections in Bayelsa central and west zones. They further add that the cash is also to help Chief Timi Alaibe with legal bills in his effort to unseat Gov. Douye Diri at the Supreme Court.
“Perhaps, to make their tale sound believable, the talebearers – Pointblanknews an online platform – took the extra trouble to manufacture imaginary quotes purportedly from a close friend of Engr. Wabote, referencing a fictitious conversation about monies that were allegedly collected from others by the Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources.
“We of Transparency In Petroleum Exploration and Development Initiative believe that from the nature, pattern and timing of this frivolous, irresponsible, fake and wicked allegation. It is fairly easy to know what source it is coming from. Moreso, as records show that this is neither the first, second or even third time such an allegation is made against Engr. Simbi Wabote by these people.
“However, from the depth and range of other issues brought into this latest allegation, it is easily discernible that those making the allegations not only seek to whip up negative public opinion against the Hon. Minister of State and his party, the APC but are also seeking to cause disharmony and bad blood between the duo of Chief Timipre Sylva and Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote. This we vigorously abhor. Both personalities are assets to the oil and gas industry, Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta region and, indeed, Nigeria.”
The group however said it was comforted by the fact that any discerning person will quickly realise the sheer impossibility of the allegation, as it said it was almost “impossible” for the said amount to be sourced from a government agency.
“Besides, we know of a fact that the kind of stringent corporate governance structure that has been put in place at the NCDMB by Engr. Wabote since assuming leadership of the board makes it totally impossible for any such money to be taken out of the board’s coffers without due process.
“When people are consumed by an unbridled desire to undo others, they tend to conveniently ignore even manifestly obvious facts such as that all accounts of ministries, departments and agencies are domiciled with the Central Bank, under the TSA arrangement. Therefore, it will be fairly easy to trace such huge disbursements.”
The group called on Nigerians to disregard such “asinine nonsense” and stated that Sylva had never demanded or mandated Wabote to raise any sum of money, either in Naira or Dollars for the purpose of sponsoring any election in Bayelsa State or elsewhere.
“It is therefore germane to add that this strategy of dragging Engr. Simbi’s name into every election in Bayelsa will never work, no matter how often it is peddled. It must be stopped. Politicians need to focus on how best to improve the lives of those they seek to work for and not spin imaginary stories of Engr. Wabote and millions of dollars that never exist everytime they’re faced with an election,” Derek finished.
