Jonathan Nwokpor
The campaign of defamation and needless blackmail directed upon Dr. Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has angered the Niger Delta Progressive Youths League.
The group said in a statement released on Saturday by Comrade Ebiegberi Jonathan, its National President, that it was aware that fake articles were being maliciously circulated by a few supporters of yellow journalism, accusing Edu of being involved in financial misappropriation at the National Social Investment Programme Agency, or NSIPA.
It characterized it as a deceptive move by a group of people who are displeased with Edu’s openness and daring in exposing the corruption in NSIPA, which has aided the anti-graft agency’s probe.
It noted: “The Leadership of the Niger Delta Progressive Youths League notes with utter dismay the campaign of calumny, media brigandism, and unnecessary blackmail against our daughter, Dr Betta Edu, by some rabble-rousers from a particular section of the country that feels the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is their exclusive preserve.
“More so, we are particularly bemused that a particular section of the country feels that a Southerner, let alone one from the Niger Delta region, cannot head the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, hence the inglorious attempt to frustrate the excellent effort of the honourable minister and ultimately blackmail her out of office, to serve their ethnocentric agenda.”
It said that the people of the Niger Delta are pleased of Edu’s accomplishments as a minister thus far and firmly support her.
The group went on, saying, “As a people, we frown at any attempt to unnecessarily blackmail, distract and distort the good work the honourable minister is doing in pursuing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.”
The group emphasised that there is no question regarding the minister’s ability to deliver, as evidenced by her past positions as Cross River State’s Commissioner for Health and Director General of Primary Healthcare, which attest to her commitment, sacrifice, and selflessness towards the underprivileged and marginalised.
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