A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Barr Etifa Jonathan, has thrown his weight behind Nigeria’s Oil Minister, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, following his recent altercation with the immediate past Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote.
It would be recalled that Lokpobiri said the NCDMB under Wabote allegedly mismanaged $500m on some projects and loans.
Wabote, in his response, also alleged that Lokpobiri facilitated his removal following his refusal to increase the board’s budget for his office (minister) by N30b.
But in a statement made available to newsmen, on Thursday, Etifa urged Wabote to give stewardship of his tenure as Executive Secretary of the NCDMB.
“The accusations of financial impropriety against Wabote by Lokpobiri cannot just be conjured from the thin air. The minister must have properly investigated and come up with those findings.
“Wabote should convincingly explain why the said refinery, fertilizer plant and other projects situated in Brass have not been completed.
“These are critical projects that will change the fortune of our people, thus we are glad the minister is asking pertinent questions about how funds earmarked for the projects were expended,” Etifa said
While commending Lokpobiri for working toward the completion of critical projects and his performance in the petroleum ministry, Etifa urged the oil minister not to relent in his quest to sanitize the oil industry and entrench President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
“I must commend Lokpobiri for his dedication in making sure critical projects such as the Brass Fertilizer plant, Refinery and others are completed despite the hurdles.
“His contributions in ensuring we get steady foreign exchange inflow and stabilization of the Naira against the Dollar is one important achievement he must be commended for,” he said.
The APC chieftain urged Nigerians, especially people of the Niger Delta, and stakeholders in the oil industry to give the minister the needed support to succeed.
“I call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beam their search light on the activities of the NCDMB in the last eight years and prosecute any person found culpable,” Etifa said.
