Sen Akpabio has been called out by The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to step down and allow investigation into reported fraudulent practices.
PDP spokesman in a statement said that the revelations now being brought to light about what’s going on in NDDC is just a tip of the iceberg of the stinking corruption and criminal activities that have saturated the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration led by President Buhari.
Recall that Joy Nunieh , ex Managing Director of NDDC had made some allegations of unimaginable stealing, manipulation of budget, victimization and implication of innocent Nigerians as well fetish practices by corrupt officials allegedly lead by the supervising Akpabio.
The statement:
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 allegation by the former NDDC MD that a certain NDDC top notch said he can kill if Senator Akpabio asks him to do so, shows the level of recklessness and the victimisation in MDAs under the APC rule.”
“More distressing is that the Buhari Presidency and the APC had remained silent even when the embattled minister has not provided any concrete defence to the allegations beyond personal attacks on the whistle blower.”
“Nigerians will recall that our party had in April, alerted of massive looting in the NDDC and called for investigation, which was however not addressed by the government.”
“Our party had also alerted that the NDDC management has not been able to give 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.”
“The PDP holds that any credible administration like the one the APC and the Buhari Presidency would want Nigerians to believe as running, would have spoken out and commenced immediate investigation into the matter, if its officials are not complicit”.
However, PDP urged President Buhari to address the issue especially for the delicacy of the Niger Delta and should investigate and probe all those involved in such fraud.
