By Onome Oghenetega
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has described as mischievous reports accusing the Corporation of funding alleged vote-buying by All Progressives Congress (APC) during the just concluded governorship election in Ondo State.
It also debunked media reports accusing it of allegedly bribing the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
A statement on Friday by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, noted that the “mischievous and contrived allegations” lack any iota of truth.
It stated that allegations were ostensibly designed to serve the selfish ends of their sponsors to bring NNPC to disrepute and tarnish the Corporation’s image.
“On the alleged bribe or Covid-19 palliative to NANS published by Saharareporters, NNPC confirmed that it received a letter dated April 22, 2020, from NANS signed by one Comrade Danielson Akpan, requesting for financial support to enable the association provide palliatives to students who were stranded at various schools during the lockdown, a request the Corporation could not honour due to the peculiar circumstances and financial constraints thrown up by the global oil market meltdown.
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“Concerning the allegation of providing funds to support a political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in buying votes during the Ondo State gubernatorial election published by Nairaland, the Corporation explained that the NNPC is owned by the Federation and indeed, all Nigerians, hence, it is non-partisan and does not engage in sponsorship of political parties or causes.
“NNPC called on Saharareporters and Nairaland to retract the reports failing which it would be forced to seek legal redress as appropriate.
“It also urged members of the public to discountenance the reports, stressing that they were a crass display of unprofessionalism with predetermined conclusions aimed at serving the selfish purposes of their sponsors”, it added.
