The Rivers State Government says it would not fail to protect its daughter, Joy Nunieh from actual harm in the wake of revelations of corruption at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Nunieh, a former Acting Managing Director of NDDC, has been enmeshed in a media war with Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio over management of the commission’s funds.
She claimed to have been removed from office for refusing to pillage NDDC’s funds as directed by Akpabio whom she accused of being behind “grand corruption” at the commission.
Also, she claimed Akpabio tried to get her to swear an oath of allegiance to him and sexually harassed her.
Akpabio denied the charges of corruption, saying Nunieh was removed for insubordination.
But in a Tuesday statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, the Rivers State Government warned that no harm must befall the ex-NDDC boss.
The government said that while it did not subscribe to the controversy at the commission, it took the safety of Nunieh very seriously.
The statement read in part, “We hereby call on those involved in the ongoing investigations in the NDDC to ensure that Dr. Joi Nunieh does not suffer any harm in the course of their undertakings.
“We wish to state categorically that the Rivers State Government will never support any action that will prevent or jeopardize the laudable intentions of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to positively reposition the NDDC and fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta.
“However, we wish to state that while we are not interested in identifying with the present unfolding drama in the NDDC, we will not however fail to protect our daughter from actual harm or perceived danger.
“The State owes it as a duty to protect her citizens from danger no matter their political affiliation and we cannot fold our hands and watch anyone harm her or indeed any Rivers citizen.
” advise those involved in the present altercations in the NDDC to thread with caution in their actions and utterances.”
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