CALABAR – The Cross River State Representative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, has denied involvement in a list circulating online, which purportedly names beneficiaries of the NDDC Christmas Bonus for groups in the state.
In an official statement released on Monday, 27th January 2025, Duke dismissed the list as fake, stating that it neither originated from him nor his office.
He alleged that the project, earmarked to benefit 50 groups across Cross River State with a total of ₦100 million, had been taken over by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing the Southern Senatorial District.
According to Duke, the ₦100 million fund was intended to distribute ₦2 million to each of the 50 groups across the three senatorial districts. However, he accused Senator Ekpenyong of taking control of the funds without consultation.
“For the records, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong is currently keeping the ₦100 million released by the NDDC for youths and women across the three senatorial zones of Cross River State,” he said.
Duke criticised the senator’s alleged actions, describing them as overreach and calling for the publication of the full list of beneficiaries for transparency.
“I challenge the publishers of the list to make public the details of the 50 groups that were supposed to benefit from the project, including their names, account numbers, phone numbers, and names of beneficiaries,” he added.
The NDDC representative also noted that while two of the groups on the circulating list are affiliated with a cultural organisation he coordinates, he neither submitted their names nor authorized the list’s release.
Duke further accused Senator Ekpenyong of interfering in his responsibilities as the NDDC representative for Cross River State, urging the senator to focus on securing benefits for the state from across the Niger Delta region, rather than concentrating on funds allocated within the state.
He called on political actors to refrain from politicising the matter, emphasising the need for collaboration to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of resources to Cross Riverians.
“Our collective goal should be to empower Cross Riverians and ensure the fair distribution of benefits that rightfully belong to them,” he stated.
The controversy over the NDDC Christmas Bonus highlights the ongoing challenges of accountability and equitable resource distribution in the state.
Efforts to reach Sen. Ekpenyong for comments proved abortive as he did not take his calls at the time of this report. However, Converseer will bring his response to the forefront once he responds to the allegations.
