NDDC: Akpabio In More Troubles As PDP, Others Demand His Sack

By Fola James

The Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio has been struggling to dismiss the allegation of corruption against him by a former Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commision, NDDC, Joy Nunieh.

But the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has now made his case worse after demanding that he stepped down from office to allow a through probe of the matter by the federal government.

Nunieh, last week, after attending a probe session at the National Assembly, Abuja, caused a stir after accusing the minister of gross corruption, among which, is that the minister awarded 30 contracts to himself in one day.

She also accused the minister of sexually harassing her, which at appoint earned him a slap from the former NDDC boss.

Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state has debunked the allegations, and counter allegations have been flying from both sides since.

Some Nigerians, including the PDP are worried that Akpabio continued stay in office is capable of compromising investigations judging from past experience in the past.

On Monday, Kola Ologbodiyan, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, in a statement demanded that Akpabio should step down from office, to allow a thorough probe of the saga.

The PDP said the corruption saga in the interventionist agency has blown open the recklessness and carelessness of top public officials in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Part of the statement reads “the silence and inaction by the Buhari Presidency and the APC since the uncovering of the fraud in the NDDC signpost complicity at the highest levels as well as validate public stance that treasury looting and cover up for corrupt persons are normal official statecraft and manifesto of the APC and the Buhari administration.

Nigerians are still in a state of shock over reports of how the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Akpabio allegedly bullied officials to pillage the Commission’s foreign currency account; how the laid down procedures of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) are allegedly circumvented to siphon unapproved budgets as well as how innocent workers and federal legislators, who are averse to corrupt practices, were victimised, implicated and even harassed with fetish practices.”

The party said it is “more distressing is that the Buhari Presidency and the APC had remained silent even when the embattled minister has not provided any concrete defense to the allegations beyond personal attacks on the whistleblower.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio”

The PDP said the administration must do everything to get to the bottom of the corruption saga, adding that the NDDC is a breeding ground for corruption.

“Nigerians will recall that our party had in April alerted of massive looting in the NDDC and called for an investigation, which was however not addressed by the government.

Our party had also alerted that the NDDC management has not been able to give a cogent explanation to the reported Lassa fever contract fraud through which over N4 billion Naira NDDC fund was alleged to have been frittered on hazy procurement deals.

This is in addition to alleged N5.5 billion COVID-19 scandal which trails reports that the NDDC had already spent over N1.045 billion purportedly for supply of kits and palliatives to Nigerians in nine states,” PDP said, adding that the administration must show to Nigerians its seriousness in fighting graft.

Meanwhile, Akpabio has denied that allegations, he said the former NDDC boss is an unstable character.

In response to the allegations, Akpabio said “let me just point this out, the last managing director that you mentioned, no matter the allegation, I wish she would go to a hospital, see a doctor and then get some injections and relax.”

I am not saying something is wrong with her, I am saying something is wrong with her temperament. You don’t need to ask me, you can ask about four other husbands she married.”