CNPP CONDEMNS UDUAGHAN'S REFUSAL TO PROBE ADVISER

THE Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties(CNPP), Delta State chapter, Comrade Igbini Odafe Emmanuel, has condemned the refusal of the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to probe the allegation of fraud brought to his notice early in February this year by the CNPP against his Special Adviser on Inter Party Relations, Dr. Emmanuel Mafiana, over the recent disbursement of N20 million grant approved by the state government for all registered political parties.

Comrade Igbini, who spoke in Warri said: "It is even more worrisome, when the Special Adviser only recently confessed to the fact that the Action Congress(AC) and the Democratic Peoples Party(DPP) were excluded from benefiting in the N20m grant contrary to his earlier claim that these two parties were among the 34 parties he paid the grant"

Moreover, he pointed out that the Special Adviser in justifying fraudulent disbursement of the Grant, told newsmen, that he was acting based on instruction from above, stressing that the exclusion of AC and DPP was surely for the simple reason that the Governorship candidates of the AC and DPP were in court challenging the election of the Governor.

The CNPP Chairman stressed, that the refusal of the governor to resolve such minor problem which bothers on fraud and creating political tension, crisis and disaffection amongst political parties in the state had raised fundamental questions on the sincerity of Gov. Uduaghan on his 3-point agenda which focused first and foremost on peace.

"His action so far is aimed at creating crisis within other political parties and encouraging members of such political parties to betray and abandon their candidates ahead of the expected nullification of the governorship election and the forthcoming local government elections".

He said Comrade Igbini, noted that many of the parties such as NMDP and NDP, have now been engulfed in internal crisis promoted by the special adviser due to the N20m grant while some other parties had also abandoned their candidates and are now working for the success of the PDP.

According to him, the CNPP wish to state categorically and unequivocally that no amount of injustice and denial of their right to such grants to political parties would make them to abandon their parties and candidates to become political slaves and prostitutes to Gov. Uduaghan and the PDP.

"We have just been informed that while Gov Uduaghan has refused to address the fraud perpetrated by his special adviser, a further N16m Grant was again released to the special adviser as outstanding grant for political parties.

We shall ensure that we remain resolved in maintaining the peace, unity and development of Delta state, despite such unwarranted provocation and injustice, while ensuring that soonest we shall seek lawful means in ensuring that the governor and his special adviser render account of the disbursement of all monies withdrawn from the Delta State treasury in the guise of disbursement to political parties. Such refusal by the governor amounts to aiding and abetting fraud and corruption in Delta State, a position we had rejected until now". Comrade Igbini said.