By Our Correspondent
The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) has given the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu a clean bill of health, dismissing allegation against him that he was romancing with the leadership of the Delta State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A group, Buhari Movement for Change (BMC) recently wrote an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari entitled “Urgent Appeal To President Muhammadu Buhari to Save Delta State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC from Extinction over Ibe Kachikwu’s Romance With The Leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Delta State Chapter.”
But in a swift reaction, NDIMRC in a press release signed by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, the group implored President Buhari to ignore the group, saying its members were out to give the Minister a bad name while at the same time seeking for self recognition.
The group said it was not true that the Minister was romancing with the Delta State Chapter of the PDP, noting that it was too early in the day to call for the head of the Minister.
According to the group, the Minister should be allowed to settle down for his national assignment rather than distracting him at this early stage and crucial period in the country.
While giving the President a pat on the back for the wise choice of the Minister, the group implored the President not to take the allegation against the Minister seriously.
The group wrote, “We want to draw your attention to the recent publication by the group going by the name Buhari Movement for Change (BMC) in which they faulted you for the choice of Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu as the Minister of State for Petroleum and also accusing him of romancing with the leadership of the Delta State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
“Mr. President, ordinarily, we would not have joined issues with the Buhari Movement for Change (BMC). But we are constrained to react to the unwarranted accusation of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu in order to put the record straight,” it stated, adding that; “Your Excellency, you made a good choice in the recent appointment of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as Minister of State for Petroleum, a highly respected technocrat. Your choice of him was a good one and we want to give you a pat on the back for making the wise choice. Thank you Mr. President.”
The group also said, “We want to let you know Mr. President that Dr. Ibe kachikwu who is from Delta North Senatorial District with the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa is not romancing with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State. He is a clean man and should be spared of the accusation by the so called group seeking for recognition.”
The group urged President Buhari to disregard the lies raised in the publication against the Minister, pointing out that, “This is the time to allow the respected Minister to settle down for national assignment and not time for unnecessary distraction that will not do us any good.”
“You have taken your decision on Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and let it be so. He is a round peg in a round hole and therefore the accusation against him should be disregarded. He is not romancing with PDP and we therefore give him a clean bill of health. We know that you were guided by the Wisdom of Solomon in picking Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to serve in your cabinet. The accusation against him is unfounded and it should be dismissed. We salute you for the confidence reposed on Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and we know he will not betray the confidence,” NDIMRC stated.
