Group Reacts Over Report Of Purchase Of ‘N11m Golden Spoons For Godfathers’ In Delta

A group under the auspices of Nigeria Civil Society Desk has reacted to media reports that the Delta state Government allegedly expended N10,750,000  to purchased golden spoons for some prominent Deltans termed as “godfathers” in the last Christmas festival.

The group said that the media reports in which the Permanent Secretary,  Government house and protocol, Delta State, Sir Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje, was mentioned was targeted to tarnish the image of the career civil servant.

The group described as “ridiculous and unsubstantiated” allegations that the said PS was awarded the contract to purchased the items. It, however, expressed concern how documents and information about working of government were being leaked to detractors.

“It has become necessary once again to react to the ongoing campaign of calumny directed at the Permanent Secretary, Government house and protocol, Delta State and by extension, the administration of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa by some arm chair critics whose only mission was to smear and distract the Government from its avowed determination to provide visionary and purposeful leadership to the good people of Delta State.

“It was clear that there is a deliberate attempt to malign and distract the Government of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa by certain elements, within and outside the State.

“Lets take up the issues raised on its merit, first, the practice of handing out gifts to elder statesmen or indeed, the elderly in our society is very well known across the country and cuts across cultures and traditions. That the allegations centered around some mere items handed out to a select group of elder statesmen and the elderly in Delta States in recognition of their contributions to society, shows the sinister motives behind the authors of these cheap blackmail.

“Indeed, as a coalition of independent civil society groups, we encourage Governments across the Country to continue to give recognition to individuals and entities, because we cannot afford to  recognize our elders and others deserving of such, only after their demise. We have read carefully the text of their grouse and find no merit whatsoever as it contains only ramblings and contradictions, totally bereft of any sound reasoning. The responsibility of Government is not the distribution of rice but the provision of the enabling environment to ensure that rice and other items are grown in large quantities,

“It is therefore very clear from the forgoing, that these baseless allegations against Government officials in Delta State is indeed a joke taken too far and we are therefore calling on all relevant security agencies to immediately arrest the purveyors of these unwarranted attacks against both the person of Sir Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje and the Government of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa”.

The statement was signed by Comrade Emeh Friday, National Coordinator and Comrade Peter Nwokolo, National Publicity Secretary on behalf of the Nigeria Civil Society Desk.