In a statement issued yesterday in Warri, Delta State, and signed by Ebiye Coleman, President, Mr. Lazarus Anthony, Spokesman, the gruop alleged that some persons from the Niger Delta region were responsible for the series of media attacks on Godswill Akpabio, warning that they must desist from it in the overall interest of the region.

“From available information, Godswill Akpabio was never involved in the award of NDDC Headquarters contract to Rodnab Construction firm by NDDC. The said contract was approved by the Federal Executive Council on 21st December, 2017, and subsequently awarded by the management of NDDC led by it’s former MD, Nsima Ekere, and the site was handed over to Rodnab on 15th March,2018, and at that time,  Akpabio was still the  Senate Minority Leader. So, it is totally wrong to accuse Akpabio over the Rodnap contract”

“All former management of NDDC abandoned the NDDC’s Headquarters project in Port Harcourt, but, in 2019, Akpabio was appointed Minister of Niger Delta, and  President, Muhammadu Buhari, brought NDDC under Akpabio’s ministry. It was only then that Akpabio found out that NDDC was paying huge rent for a temporary office, which was a complete waste of government funds.

Being an Uncommon Transformer, he decided and directed the commission to urgently complete the NDDC’s Headquarters project for commissioning by Mr. President in April, but the unfortunate broke out of the convid-19 pandemic has changed the plan temporarily”.

The Ijaw leaders also frown at the delibrate plot to blackmail NDDC’s Interim Management Committee and Godswill Akpabio.

The continued media attacks were being sponsored by vested interests to discredit Akpabio and Commission. This must stop, we should also support Akpabio’s Niger Delta Ministry and NDDC to deliver on the mandate to provide human and infrastructural development across the entire Niger Delta region.

(C)Fresh Angle International