Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen Godswill Akpabio has come out to urge South-South governors to stop trying to issue directives to Buhari on matters concerning Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He recently revealed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State today, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the governors have no right to interfere in decisions, so they should focus on purging selves of governance misconducts in their respective states, particularly on unlawful preference for caretakers administrations in Local Governments (LGs) or imposition of loyalists when they allow council elections.

He added that he is fully in support of having a board for NDDC, but the forensic audit must be sorted forydt before anything else.

His words, “I am not aware that governors now have powers to give directives to the President, but I think they have more critical issues to fix in the region. Federal Government told governors to allow democracy in LGs and stop the narrative of operating caretakers in the councils.”

“In many of the states, councils are left without democratically elected LGs for several months. But even when they now say we want to conduct elections, somebody will sit in a room and write names of his choice as Chairman and councillors, but they have not been denied funds by FG.”

“I am ready to have a board for NDDC by tomorrow, but let’s finish with the forensic audit first, then we can have aboard, but it would not be business as usual. We brought a forensic audit and even the governors supported it because we said NDDC has not worked.”

“So we want to know why it hasn’t work to be able to do things differently. The forensic audit will be out in a few months. From what we know already, we will need some policy and legal amendments to have the change we want.”

“So the governors should not be issuing directives to the President. They should carry out proper council elections. Today, NDDC does not have a balance sheet you can take to the World Bank to access funds. When the right thing is done, more money will come. A board will definitely be appointed.”

What do you think?

Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON (born 9 December 1962), is a Nigerian lawyer and politician. He is the current Minister of Niger Delta, a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate’s Minority Leader. He also served as Governor of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria from May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2015.

Godswill Akpabio is the son of Chief Obot Akpabio and Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio (née Inyangetor) of Ukana, Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Government Area. He was born on 9 December 1962. He lost his father early in life and was raised by his mother.

In July 2019, he was nominated by President Muhammadu buhari and screened by the Nigerian Senate for a Ministerial appointment. On August 21st, 2019 he was sworn in as Minister of the Federal republic of Nigeria, Minister for Niger Delta Affairs.

Godswill Akpabio was under investigations by the EFCC on accusations that he diverted over 100 billion Naira from Akwa Ibom state during his time as governor (2007-2015). Charges were not filed. A lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong who also accused Akpabio of corruption, was later arraigned by the police in court for defamation.