A pan- Niger Delta group, Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta
(MOSIEND), has cautioned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator, Godswill Akpabio, over his
recent activities in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which they say is capable of
setting the region on fire.
The group alleged that “Akpabio’s divide and rule approach is provocative, and a drawback that can
set the region ablaze”
In a statement, signed by the National President, Kennedy Tonjo West, the group also blamed the
South-South governors for getting the region to an abysmal state, by subtly encouraging the
Minister’s unethical and illegal permutation to achieve his personal goals.
“As a group, we wonder why it took the Governors of the South-South states so long to see Akpabio’s
actions to manipulate, cajole and arm-twist institutions to do his ulterior bidding as an aberration”
”The Governors kept mute when the Minister thwarted the Board confirmation process by National
Assembly. Also recall that President Buhari transmitted via correspondence a list of Board members
to the National Assembly for screening and subsequent confirmation, which was the proper and
genuine thing to do, as it runs in tandem with the NDDC Act, and inaugurated the Interim
Management Committee through the back door to oversee the almighty, out of the world and
uncommon Forensic Audit.
”The Governors, just like some of the Senators, apart from the Deputy Senate President, sheepishly did
his bidding. About 17 months down the line, what has the forensic audit amounted to, as it concerns
the developmental needs of the region.
”The Minister just need to come out upright and be sincere with his people, he should accept his
mistake and listen to stakeholders for cohesive development.
”Recent plans to elongate the service of the Barr Effiong Okon Akwa as sole Administrator of the
Commission did not come as a surprise to MOSIEND, just as it did not go down well with the greater
population in the region. This is because Akpabio got it all laid out from the outset.
”All plans are basically to enrich himself, and impoverish the good people of the region for not voting
him in 2019, hence see the office as his compensation for losing the election as such, Akpabio to milk
the region dry.
”Recall that the Hon Minister had assured Niger Deltans that no contract will be awarded and no
contractors will be paid pending the conclusion of the Forensic Audit. One year, five months, for a six
months audit, what did we get, issues of misappropriation, kleptomania, fleecing of the commission’s
treasury, gross underdevelopment in the region, the group alleged.
”The Federal Government had approved and released about 799 billion Naira or more, for the 2019
and 2020 Budget, what are the tangible projects Minister Akpabio can lay hand on as his initiatives
under the period in view.
”MOSIEND is in total alignment with the Governors in the demand for immediate board
inauguration, one day should not be added to the expiration date. Sen Akpabio can still nominate
Barr Akwa into the Board.
”MOSIEND had on the 21st of December, 2020 written to the Governors of the Niger Delta region to
resist the Interim Sole Administrator concept and insist on the Board, shortly after then, the Sole
Administrator visited them where they all embraced the aberration as they put it, some of the
Governors even went as far as threatening to humiliate and disrupt by all means any ethnic group
which dares to protest the illegality.
”The Governors should stand their grounds for once. This time around, they should be sincere and not
disappoint the masses, the Governors are members of the Advisory Board and have a strong say,
hence should do what is expected of them.
”We also challenge the Minister to give a blow by blow account of how the commission expended over
799 billion in 2 years NDDC budget under his watch, why are the NDDC project for 2020 across the
communities and states not displayed in the Commission’s Portal or Website, the Commission is run
suspiciously and that is definitely not what President Buhari would like to see.