The minister of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Godswill Akpabio, has reacted to the crisis rocking the agency, saying those who are opposed to the forensic audit of the commission are behind the attacks against him.
Akpabio described the attacks against him “as a case of corruption fighting back because they have not foreseen that a forensic audit of the accounts of the commission could ever be ordered.”
Akpabio made this reaction after reports claimed that Otobong Ndem, a nominee for NDDC board, obtained his HND certificate even before attending Secondary school, according to his Curriculum Vitae (CV).
The minister denied the insinuation that he collected money from the former managing director of NDDC, sima Ekere or any other individual for that matter. He described this allegation as “spurious and part of the conspiracy of those who have been milking the resources meant for the development of the Niger Delta for the past 19 years.”
READ ALSO: Attack on Obaseki, Oba Akiolu: APC can handle Edo crisis – Presidency
Akpabio in his reaction stated that he would remain focused to deliver on the mandate given him by President Muhammadu Buhari, “who ordered the forensic audit”
According to him, the president would make a huge impact on the Niger Delta People in the next four years and urged them to continue to support the President.
Akpabio added that he had always carried out any assignment given him with seriousness, adding that this will not be different and recalled his strides in Akwa Ibom state as governor where he transformed infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Herald reported that Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) a rights group have called on NDDC to remove all the Northern representatives because the zone is not part of Niger Delta region.
This was contained in a statement by Austin Ozobo, the National President of the group, saying “It is also appalling that NDDC under President Muhmmadu Buhari is being politicized.
“One wonders what Northern representatives are doing in NDDC, If I may ask is North now part of Niger Delta? Are Southerners or Niger Deltans represented in the Northeast Development Commission?
Leave a Reply