THE Niger Delta People Liberation Force (NDPLF) has berated the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, over his recent decision to set up a three-man NDDC interim management committee headed by Mrs. Joy Ghene as the Acting Managing Director without President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval.
The convener of NDPLF, Mr Aaron Akpoyibo, who spoke in Benin City also chided Akpabio over his alleged overbearing influence on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The Niger Delta activist called for transparency and accountability in the ministry with a view to fighting corruption.
The NDPLF leader tasked the minister on prompt completion of the East-West Road that had been abandoned after the tenure of Mr Godsday Orubebe, former minister of Niger Delta, exited office.
President Buhari, through the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, in August 2019, announced the appointment of a 16-man board members of NDDC with Chief Bernard Okumagba named the Managing Director and Dr. Pius Odubu as chairman.
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According to Akpoyibo, “The NDPLF completely reject the interim management committee set up by Godswill Akpabio because it is not in the interest of the NDDC and the Niger Delta region to set up such a committee when the Senate had begun the screening of board members and promised to complete the exercise within seven days.
He recalled how Akpabio in one breath, in a recent interview on a national television, said that the interim management committee would stay in office until the Senate’s approval of the new board and in another breath, declared that the committee would stay until the completion of forensic audit order by President Buhari.
Akpoyibo said: “We had initially thought that it was the right decision, but Akpabio’s conduct so far shows that the NDDC under the Niger Delta Ministry will not be able to achieve its statutory responsibilities.
He demanded the return of the supervision of the NDDC to the Presidency as it was before now.
Akpoyibo queried: “We are compelled to ask what exactly is Chief Akpabio’s intention in setting up the interim management committee?
“How can an interim management committee be set up when within a week, the Senate would have cleared the board members ready for inauguration?”
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