Clark Warns Akpabio, Alleges He Is NDDC’s Problem |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

Elder Statesman, and foremost leader of the Niger Delta, Chief Edwin Clark, has asked the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to keep off the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Clark, a former Minister for Information during the first Republic, said Akpabio should concentrate on the job of the Ministry, and leave the NDDC to be run like an independent Commission that it is meant to be.

He accused Akpabio of interfering in the running of the Commission as if he is the Minister for the NDDC.

Clark spoke during a courtesy visit to him by the Sole Administrator of the NDDC, Mr Effiong Akwa.

Clark said he was shocked when Akpabio said the sum of N15billion, would be taken from the NDDC coffers to complete the East-West road. He noted that there was no such provision in the budget to complete the road with funds from the NDDC budget.

Clark noted that Kano State, in the 2021 Budget alone,  had a N50b provision made for it for three roads, and wondered why that of the Niger Delta should be different.

Clark: “Do we have to go and beg for money to build roads by ourselves. The Minister should live above his personal interest, and put the interest of the Niger Delta first.

“Some of us have advised the Minister, you have a Ministry. Don’t abandon your Ministry to focus on the NDDC. It’s not fair.

“The problem we have, therefore, is the constant interference with the affairs of the NDDC by the Minister of the Niger Delta.”