By Charles Nsirim
Senator Godswill Akpabio has urged the members of the embattled Interim Management Committee IIMC) of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ignore the Senate ordered probe of the activities of the IMC.
In an information exclusively obtained this evening, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs dared the Senate to proceed with the probe saying its recommendations will not see the light of day.
“When I was Governor for eight years, what was Lawan and! Gbajabiamila?; when I was a Senate Minority leader as a first timer, where were they?” Senator Akpabio rhetorically boasted.
The Senator said the probe of the Senate Committee will come to naught as Nigerians would soon know who the true owners of Nigeria are!
He said rather than being vilified on account of mounting allegations of sleaze, his stewardship in the Ministry is being commended with additional responsibilities and spending approvals. The Federal Executive!! Council (FEC) had given approval to the NDDC for the purchase of assorted vehicles of Toyota brand to the tune of N1, 599, 180, 544. 68.
While addressing his close associates and select members of the IMC at his Asokoro residence, Senator Akpabio said it would have been beneficial for the Probe Committees to accept the huge sums of money he had offered them and kept quiet. He said whether they accepted the offers or decided to proceed with the probe, the outcome will be the same. He boasted that the resolutions will never be implemented by Mr. President. The Interim Management Committee (IMC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs have not submitted any memorandum to the Senate Probe Committee citing COVID -19 pandemic.
“As it was in Akwa Ibom, so it is in Abuja. What money cannot do, more money can do”, he quipped to the applause of those present.
The Minister has in recent times come under a barrage of scathing criticisms over his management of the NDDC prompting the National Assembly to call for the probe of over N40 Billion allegedly spent by the IMC in 3 months under his watch. Recent documents made available by Mr. Johnson Kolawole who is Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy and Programmes of Act for Positive Transformation Initiative and Petitioner before the National Assembly Probe Committee, shows that over N700, 000, 000. 00 has been earmarked by the IMC as Media Support Fund to ward off attacks and launder the! image of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
Pundits allege that Senator Akpabio’s attitude is attributable to the financial war-chest he has amassed in preparation for this face-off.