The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has vowed to resist all attempts by detractors to smear the had earned reputation of one of their own, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote.
The lYC said it has observed and carried out discreet investigation into the allegation of perjury leveled against Wabote by Jackson Ude, Editor-in-Chief of Pointblank online news and found out that the campings of calumny against the NCDMB Scribe were sponsored by those threatened by his rising global profile and unprecedented performance and achievements in the oil and gas sector since he took over under President Muhammadu Buhari.
A statement signed by the National Spokesman of the IYC, Comrade Ebiladei Ekerefe said the Ijaw youths want to put it on record that “Engr. Simbi Wabote is our son. And we are proud to stand up anywhere to defend his honour as a hardworking, committed and upright Ijaw man.
“We will resist any attempt by these symbols of corruption to sponsor smear campaign against his person and years of achievement visible even to the blind in the country, and indeed the African continent.
“For us, as progressive minded Youths of the region, we are proud to say it was under Engr. Simbi Wabote’s watch that various achievements were recorded in the oil and gas industry under President Buhari.
“He ensured that the NCDMB Corporate headquarters located in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa was completed and commissioned.
“Also, the board ensured the investment in the composite cylinder factory, completion of 10MW power plant, establishment of FPSO integration facility, initiated project 100 initiative, construction of oil and gas parks scheme and the creation of US$350M integration fund.
“For us, who are focused and believe in our own, Wabote’s activities in the Oil and Gas industry has re-affirmed the “Giant of Africa†position in the continent with the enabling 50 per cent domiciliation of $12billion NLGN Train 7 project, promotion of African Local Content and the introduction of Nigerian Content 10 years strategic road map.
“Most importantly, thousands of women and youths from the entire states of the region have benefitted from training, skill aquisition, empowerment and human capacity development from the vision and upright posture of NDCMB under Wabote.
“Ijaw Youths call on those known dissident Niger Deltans who have become tools in the hands of those corrupt elements and specialists in the “pull-him-down†sectorto stop or we move all out to make life unbearable for them in their home and community.
“It is even shocking for an acclaimed indigene of the region to allow himself be used as a “Judas†to bring down a man of impeccable character such as Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote! Jackson Ude and Timi Frank should desist from this acts. Even though we know it’s their stock in trade to blackmail leaders from this region for pecuniary gains.
“The IYC is also unaware of the reasons for the excitement by these enemies of development and pragmatic performance. Instead of praising Engr. Simbi Wabote for not allowing a known blackmailer and extortionists to drag him in the mud of murky and yellow journalism, Timi Frank and his group of sponsored boys are busy calling for the sack of Engr, Wabote. They should hide their faces in shame.
“The Ijaw Youths in the Nine States of the Niger Delta region and ready to stage a peace rally to warn those involved in the frivolous, unwarranted and libelous allegations to desist or face the anger of the youths of the region.
“This is a political year, politicians should face their politics and leave the technocrats to continue with the technical aspects of keeping the Niger Delta and Nigeria together through policy framework in the oil and gaE call on President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow these sponsored attacks on Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote to stand.
“President Buhari, should by now, know the likes of Timi Frank and Jackson Ude. They want to blackmail one of Niger Delta and Nigeria best on the platter of sustaining their corrupt practices.”Ijaw Youths will never allow corruption win where men of uprightness and good standing hold sway.”
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