Some days ago, Orok Otu Duke submitted a list of names to be paid a total of N100,000,000 as Christmas palliatives. A cursory review of the list shows that it is filled up with his family members names and those of his very close associates.
How Orok Duke cornered NDDC Xmas largesse, filled list with names of family members Orok Duke, the Cross River State representative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has been accused of hijacking the NDDC N100,000,000 Christmas palliatives.
According to Prince Charles Ekanem, Orok Duke, had some days ago, submitted a list of names to benefit from the Niger Delta Development Commission Christmas largesse, noting that a review of the list shows that it is filled with his family members names and associates.
Ekanem further alleged that the NDDC commissioner in the state was told by the commission headquarters to consult with other stakeholders to substantiate and reconcile the list, but he (Orok Duke) has deliberately been avoiding all the stakeholders for several days, and has resorted to blackmailing the Senator representing Cross River southern Senatorial District, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong.
He wrote: RE: SENATOR ASUQUO EKPENYONG
Naturally, we would not respond to uneducated writers but this response is directed at the Cross River State representative of NDDC, Orok Otu Duke who is the actual author of the above referenced article. (Pls see screenshot of his WhatsApp media group attached)
Christmas Palliatives: Some days ago, Orok Otu Duke submitted a list of names to be paid a total of N100,000,000 as Christmas palliatives. A cursory review of the list shows that it is filled up with his family members names and those of his very close associates.
When told by the Commission headquarters to sit down with other stakeholders to substantiate and reconcile the list, he has typically been avoidant of all Stakeholders for several days and has resorted to blackmailing the Senator. Anybody that knows Orok Otu Duke knows that this is his stock in trade.
Ostensibly, Orok Otu Duke hopes that the attendant pressure of blackmailing the Senator will lead to the Commission paying him and his family members the N100,000,000 from where he intends to give out paltry handouts of N20,000 to a few groups.
Fortunately for the general public, this push for transparency is in its general interest as it is demanded that the final list of beneficiaries of the N100,000,000 be published and publicly circulated to ensure accountability.
This is to avoid what befell the traditional rulers of the state after it was reported that Orok Duke delivered 54 bags of Rice and 14 Cartons of Power Oil to all the traditional rulers in the state after N50,000,000 was assigned for same beneficiaries.
Contradictorily, Orok writes that the Senator is working against the developmental interest of the State and her people but in the same breath states that the Senator is aggressively developing the state through solar light interventions and road construction projects. Over the last 6 months it has been clear to the blind and audible to the deaf that this first time Senator has unprecedentedly been delivering on his mandate.
From attracting over 70 projects to his district, to lawmaking, to the representation of his people in the hallowed chambers and ultimately in his oversight functions.
The Senator has, is and will continue to work with the Leader of the Party in the State, Governor Bassey Otu for the greater interests of the people of the State.
Any attempt by Orok Otu Duke to cause a rift between them for his personal enrichment is an exercise in futility, the N100,000,000 Christmas palliative for the people of Cross River State will indeed go to the people of Cross River State. This is what Orok Otu Duke fears and is attempting blackmail to avoid.
By: Prince Charles Ekanem
