CNPD raises alarm over alleged plot to ‘pull down’ Senate President, Akpabio

A coalition of good governance advocates, Citizens Network For Peace and Development, CNPD, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to pull down Senate President Godswill Akpabio by tarnishing his reputation.

The coalition said those behind the plot are seeking to undermine Akpabio’s reputation in the Niger Delta with unfounded allegations.

CNPD’s statement came on the heels of claims by a Rivers State statesman, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, that Akpabio disappointed the people of the Niger Delta during his stint as Minister of Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

Sara-Igbe had expressed disappointment in Akpabio’s performance during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. While acknowledging Akpabio’s success as governor of Akwa Ibom State, Sara-Igbe also criticized his handling of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

“The people of Niger Delta trusted Akpabio when he became governor of Akwa Ibom, and he did a very good job with Akwa Ibom. When he became minister, everybody thought Akpabio would do the same feat as a minister.

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“But unfortunately, Akpabio led NDDC, which they call the forensic audit, and it became the nightmare and the worst that happened to the Niger Delta,” Sara-Igbe said.

However, in a statement on Thursday, CNPD noted that Sara-Igbe’s comments were part of an orchestrated plot against the Senate President.

CNPD warned those it described as “professional detractors” to allow Akpabio to concentrate on his legislative assignment, rather than seeking to make him deviate from set targets.

Executive Director of the CNPD, Barr. Francis Okereke Wainwei noted that Akpabio should be commended, rather than condemned, for the forensic audit which entrenched transparency in the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.

Urging the Senate President’s critics to be factual and constructive, CNPD said, “This call is premised on the fact that there is the emergence of a new trend of frivolous criticisms orchestrated to tarnish the image of the Senate President and reduce his popularity, especially in the Niger Delta region. And majority of the said criticisms against him are heavily laced with bitterness and negative political sentiments. We are, therefore, calling on all such critics to eschew bitterness and political sentiments while expressing their opinions concerning the leadership trajectory of His Excellency, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.

“We are also using this medium to call on Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe to do an objective analysis and thorough research on the tenure of Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to enable him to arrive at a more accurate and informed account of events within the period. Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe should thereafter tender an unreserved apology to the Senate President for making such an unfounded, spurious, malicious and reckless statement against him.

“The Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC before the emergence of Chief Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was a ‘conduit pipe’ servicing the financial interests of a few individuals in contrast to its mandate of developing the Niger Delta communities. The current success and progress at the agency were made possible by the uncommon transformational leadership of Chief Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.”

The coalition condemned what it described as malicious and fabricated falsehood targeted at pulling down Akpabio.

Warning those behind the plot to have a rethink, CNPD added, “It is unfortunate that the ‘stock in trade’ of some persons is to try to pull down political leaders by ‘casting aspersions’ and spreading falsehoods against such leaders. The activities of such persons have the capacity to distract and slow down the efficiency and productivity of our leaders, which can negatively impact public governance and development in the country.”