Some forces that are opposed to the continued stay of Godswill Akpabio in office as the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, are mobilizing for a protest march across the nine oil-producing states and Abuja.
The organizers have written to the Inspector general of Police, requesting him to permit them to conduct a peaceful protest at the premises of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and member states, the National Assembly, Ministry of Niger Delta, and Channels Television in Lagos.
For them, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the development commission is “illegal”.
This is coming as the Niger Delta Ijaw Development and Response Assembly is pressing President Muhammadu Buhari to remove Akpabio as the oil region’s minister.
Already, a coalition of concerned groups: Conduct and Due Process Group, Niger Delta Advocates For Development, among others have joined in calling for the sack of the minister who dominated the affairs of Akwa Ibom State for eight years (2007-2015).
Their major anger against Akpabio revolves around an alleged mismanagement of N40 billion at the NDDC the minister is supervising.
In a statement by Friday Okon, Kokaro Jumbo, and Chief Jerry, the coalition is demanding the immediate removal of the NDDC from the control of the Ministry of Niger Delta and the disbanding of the IMC.
According to them, ‘’a well-intentioned forensic audit ordered by President Buhari to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of the looting of NDDC’s resources has become a ruse; going by the massive scale of looting that is still taking place in the Commission at the moment under Akpabio’s watch as Minister.
“Besides the massive looting going on at the moment, Akpabio has introduced despotic and clannish tendencies into the NDDC workplace. Akpabio who should normally just be playing a supervisory role from the Ministry of Niger Delta has personally taken charge of staffing and staff redeployment in the NDDC.
“Many principal staff of other ethnic nationalities working at the headquarters are being replaced with people from Akwa-Ibom, the home state of Akpabio. The most worrisome aspect is the use of less qualified and inexperienced persons to replace the seven most qualified and experienced staff especially in critical offices just to have his way.’’
