By Eseoghene Emuke
A former Federal Commissioner for Information and convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark has denied collecting money for a contract and later abandoning the project.
He said the allegation by a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, was frivolous and has no iota of truth and urged the public to disregard same.
In a statement on Saturday signed by the National Secretary of PANDEF, Dr. Alfred Mulade, said the allegation was aimed at denting the hard-earned reputation of the former senator and elder statesman.
Below Is Full Statement:
CHIEF E. K CLARK NEVER COLLECTED MONEY AND ABANDONED PROJECTS
(1). A couple of days ago, a news report credited to Elder Godsday Orubebe, erstwhile Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, was trending in the social media platforms which contains a spurious and mischevious allegation of collection of money and abandonment of certain contracts against the person and integrity of our leader Chief Edwin Clark captured, thus:
“…As Niger Delta Minister, I gave Edwin Clark contract, he took the money but didn’t do the job. Yet he said he has the interest of N/Delta at heart…”
(2). This is an allegation that is completely frivolous, baseless and orchestrated to dent and malign the hard-earned reputation of our revered leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
(3). For purpose of emphasis and records, the Contract for Land Reclamation/Shoreline Protection at Amadi-Ama, in Portharcourt, Rivers State was awarded to Panama Construction Ltd, a firm in which Chief Clark has interest, in 2011. The Company immediately mobilized to resumed active work on site, and achieved appreciable milestones.
(4). By the time Elder Orubebe exited the Ministry as a Minister, in search of his gubernatorial ambition, two earned valuation payment requests which have been due since 2013, were left unpaid, by Orubebe, while he held sway as Minister and has remained unpaid, till date.
(5) The buildup to the 2015 Gubernatorial Election marked a sharp division between Elder Orubebe and Chief Clark as the former met brick wall in his unsuccessful quest to woo the later to boost his political advantage in pursuit of his ambition.
(6) Mr. Orubebe allegedly reported the issue to the EFCC, and upon investigation, nothing was found against Chief Clark and Panama Construction Ltd.
(7) The general public is hereby advised to discountenance this fake news, tended to smearing the personality and influence of our leader, for reasons best known to its author.
Dr. Alfred MULADE.
