This post has already been read 2446 times!

The Crusaders for Niger Delta Community Development (CNDCD) has come out strongly in defence of Mr. Matthew Dango, Special Assistant on Youth Affairs to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, describing recent criticisms against him as baseless and driven by personal frustration.

In a statement released Thursday and signed by its National Coordinator, Ambassador Jesse Ese, the group condemned the “defamatory and malicious” remarks issued by one Adams Marbo, who identified himself as President of the Niger Delta Progressive Youth Leadership Foundation.

CNDCD accused Marbo of acting out of bitterness and envy, alleging that his interest in the position of SA Youth was well known, especially after he was removed from his former role as head of Peace Building and Conflict Resolution in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) due to what the group described as “gross misconduct.”

“It is both ironic and shameful that someone like Marbo, who once acted as a gatekeeper to block genuine Niger Deltans from accessing the PAP Coordinator, now seeks to drag the name of Mr. Matthew Dango in the mud,” Ese said.

He further stated, “The desperation evident in Marbo’s letter to Dr. Ogbuku — titled ‘We have opened a chapter to fight against your SA on Youth Affairs, Mr. Matthew Dango’ — reflects nothing more than the bitterness of a man struggling to remain relevant.”

According to CNDCD, Marbo’s recent antics, including claims of being part of early protests to demand the constitution of the NDDC Board, are aimed at currying favour and reclaiming lost political ground.

“Hunger, envy and a bruised ego have become Marbo’s motivation. He now parades a self-created group that does nothing but extort and blackmail individuals and institutions that refuse to submit to his manipulative agenda,” the statement noted.

The group questioned the impact of Marbo’s organization, suggesting it has become a platform for vendetta rather than youth development in the region.

Amb. Ese emphasized that the broader Niger Delta stakeholder community stands with Mr. Dango, who he described as “dedicated, accessible, and performing his duties to the satisfaction of many.”

He concluded by urging Dr. Ogbuku, other NDDC stakeholders, and the public to disregard what he termed “a calculated attempt to discredit a hardworking aide by someone with a stained reputation and a track record of opportunism.”

“While Mr. Dango, like any human, is not without flaws, he continues to discharge his responsibilities with integrity and commitment. His efforts have not gone unnoticed,” the statement affirmed.