Sylva Debunks Alleged Rift with Akpabio over NDDC Board

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has said that there is no rift between him and the Minister of Nigeria Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio over the constitution of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The media aide to the petroleum minister, Mr. Julius Bokoru said in a statement issued yesterday that those concocting the rift were enemies of progress and therefore urged the general public to discountenance the rumour.

The media aide also discountenanced the story that Sylva was also attempting to truncate the chances of certain individuals from being Managing Director of the region’s apex interventionist body.

“Sylva has maintained excellent relations with Senator Akpabio through the years. The duo consider themselves brothers and comrades in the quest of building a more prosperous Niger Delta and a stronger Nigeria”.

Bokoru said “Sylva is currently hosting the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) and while he has the development of the Niger Delta at heart, he is not fixated on who becomes who in the formation of the NDDC board. He rather hopes and prays that for the sake of the development of the region, competent, committed, compassionate and patriotic people get appointed”.

He said “Sylva will continue building harmony amongst Niger Delta leaders, the Honourable Minister will attract even more develoment to the region as he is doing and will keep working towards a more peaceful South-South region”.