N/Delta: Akpabio’s Tenure Most Corrupt, Reckless, Says Ijaw Group
2 min read
Edith CHUKU
A renowned pressure group in the Niger Delta, the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, has described Senator Godswill Akpabio’s tenure at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as the most corrupt and reckless.
MOSIEND also decried lack of genuine visionary and purposeful leadership as bane of the region’s development.
National president of the group, Kennedy Tonjo-West, stated this in an interview with TNN, while commending the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC forensic report implementation committee on contract awards in the region.
Tonjo-West claimed that “Senator Akpabio’s tenure at the ministry was most corrupt, as NDDC contracts were awarded to cronies. Even during the forensic exercise, contractors were secretly paid, indiscriminate employment and promotion without due diligence.
“NDDC became so messy to the extent that contract papers were sold and bought in beer parlours to third and fifth parties in the name of NDDC contracts.”
While commending the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for carrying out the presidential directive to terminate over 1,300 abandoned or unexecuted contracts awarded by the NDDC, MOSIEND insisted that, “any contract papers during Senator Akpabio tenure’s that do not go through due process should be revoked and monies recovered by the present administration.
“In as much as we appreciate the government’s political will to do everything possible to sanitize and stabilize the commission for optimal performance going forward, we have our reservation on the validity of the forensic exercise under Akpabio’s watch.”
