Group Commends Akpabio’s Commitment To Peace In Niger Delta
A group has commended the commitment of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio genuine effort at sustaining peace in the Niger Delta region, describing the effort as legendary.
The National Development Group, based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in a press statement issued in Abuja, stated: “Rather than vilifying Akpabio for making the trip through the creeks, he should be commended and encouraged to do more for the peace of the region.”
The statement, signed by Comrades Oluwagbemiga Akinmade and Peter Koko, President and Secretary, respectively, noted: “Let us place it on record the uncommon effort of the Minister of the Niger Delta, towards sustaining peace in the oil producing region of the country.
“This effort must be encouraged and commended by every lover of peace and development. The visit of the Minister to the hinterland of the Niger Delta, despite obvious dangers such trip posed, Akpabio braced the odds in order to achieve peace for the nation. Rather than vilifying the minister, we think the nation should rise to salute this rare courage.
“Let us state here without any fear of contradiction that, if not for the courage Akpabio had to visit the region through the creeks, in order to achieve one purpose-peace in the zone, no one knows what would have become of the zone today.
“This is particularly when the seven-day ultimatum given the Federal Government and his ministry to put in place a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) remained only three days.
“It is on record that after Akpabio’s visit and meeting with the critical stakeholders in the region and the assurance he gave them at the parley, the Niger Delta region has continued to enjoy peace, which is a major ingredient for development.
“However, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari, through his Minister of Niger Delta, to keep to his promise of reconstituting the NDDC board on or before July 2021, as promised during the meeting in order to sustain peace in the area.”
