By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Port Harcourt
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, has apologised to Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, over media reports linking him to the rumoured arrest of the NDDC boss by a military intelligence agency.
Ogbuku, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Willie Etim, on Friday, described the publications as misleading, mischievous, and capable of creating unnecessary tension in the state.
He said the attempt to associate the Bayelsa governor with the false arrest report was politically motivated and should be disregarded by the public.
Earlier in the week, there were viral claims alleging that Ogbuku had been arrested for transferring large sums of money to former Bayelsa governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, to fund a coup against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.
The NDDC boss, however, disassociated himself from such reports and warned against efforts to sow discord within the All Progressives Congress (APC) family in Bayelsa.
He said: “It is important to clarify that any comments or opinions expressed by anyone on political matters in Bayelsa State should be regarded strictly as their personal views and not as a representation of Dr. Ogbuku’s position.”
According to him, the false claims linking Governor Diri to the alleged arrest were unnecessary and should not be given credence.
Ogbuku, through his media aide, tendered an apology to the governor for any embarrassment the publications may have caused.
“We call on all party faithful to exercise restraint in public commentary, especially when such remarks could mislead the public or misrepresent facts,” he added.