Row over NCPC’s appointment of Tonto Dikeh as ‘Peace Ambassador’

By Alao Abiodun

 

A post by Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, announcing her appointment as ‘Peace Ambassador’ to the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has sparked a row

The movie star had broken the news of her ‘appointment’ in an Instagram post on Friday, sharing a picture of herself alongside Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, during her visit to his office in Abuja on Thursday.

“We had an extensive deliberation on NCPC vision, dissecting the values for National development and youth involvement in peace building in line with the NCPC’s mandate,” she wrote.

“Finally, I wish to announce my position as the new Ambassador of the Commission for Peace Building. Need your prayers as we embark on peace building across the six (6) geopolitical zones of the nation because peace is indispensable,” she added.

As if corroborating Dikeh’s claim, Mr Pam had shared pictures from Dikeh’s visit on his personal Instagram page and commended the actress “for pledging her desire to support NCPC in sponsoring intending pilgrims to the Holy land.”

He, however, did not mention that the actress had been given an appointment.

But reacting to Dikeh’s post in a statement issued by the Head Media and Public Relations of the NCPC, Celestine Toruka, the Commission denied offering the controversial actress any appointment as its peace ambassador, saying that her post was which is “a clear misrepresentation of what transpired”.

The statement reads: “The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) wishes to state in categorical terms that King Tonto Dikeh paid an official courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev Yakubu Pam on February 25, 2021, at the corporate headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.

“As the founder of Tonto Dikeh Foundation, she expressed her willingness and interest in partnering with the Commission in the area of peace building.

“She equally cashed in on the visit to commend the NCPC boss for his positive and relentless peace initiatives across the country.

“However, we are suddenly inundated with claims from King Tonto Dikeh herself that she has been officially appointed as Ambassador of peace by this great Commission. This claim has gone viral in the media.

“The Commission frowns at this claim which is a clear misrepresentation of what transpired.

“The fact remains that the Executive Secretary of NCPC never appointed Tonto Dikeh an Ambassador of Peace for NCPC, and this was not part of her visit.

“Therefore, this claim by her is spurious, unfounded and should be discarded and seen by all Nigerians as a figment of her imagination

“Nevertheless, we appreciate her desire to partner with us in our peace-building initiatives and in the area of pilgrimage sponsorship to the Holy Land.”

But reacting to the commission’s rejoinder on the supposed appointment, the actress maintained that she had evidence to back her claims.

She also inferred that some people were behind the NCPC’s ‘sudden’ decision.

”There are video proofs, but I would rather respect the commission’s decision and take the fall. Thanks to every Christian body that fought against this growth,” she said.

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