The Niger Delta People Liberation Force (NDPLF) has demanded transparency and accountability in Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs with a view to fighting corruption.
Mr Aaron Akpoyibo, who is the leader of the group, disclosed this in a press release made available to newsmen in Benin City.
Akpoyibo berated the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr Godswill Akpabio for his overbearing influence in activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He accused Akpabio of playing God for setting up a three-man NDDC interim management Committee led by Mrs. Joy Ghene Nuieh as the Acting Managing Director without president Muhammadu Buhari’s approval.
Akpoyibo tasked the minister on prompt completion of the East Road that had been abandoned after 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 Mustaph in August, 2019, announced the appointment of 16-man Board members of NDDC in which Chief Bernard Okumagba was named the Managing Director along with Dr. Pius Odubu as Chairman of the Board.
According to him, “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 has began the screening and promised to complete the exercise within seven days.”
He recalled how Akpabio in a recent interview on a national television alleged that the interim management Committee would stay in office until the Senate approval of the new board in one breath, and in another breath declared that the Committee would stay until the completion of forensic audit order by President Buhari.
“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 would not be able to achieve its statutory responsibilities.
“The supervision of the NDDC should be returned back to the Presidency as it was before now.
“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 we know that within a week time, the Senate would have cleared the board members ready for inauguration?”, the group queried.
