PRESS STATEMENT! SENATE NEVER “GOOFED” SENATOR AKPABIO FROWNS AT MISCHIEF BLOGGERS, ACTIVISTS ON USE OF MISLEADING HEADLINES:

Sen. Godswill Akpabio

The Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator  Godswill Akpabio has frowned at the use of intemperate language by bloggers and activists in their commentaries on the invitation of the NDDC IMC to appear before an ad-hoc Committee of the SENATE and the National Assembly.


Senator Akpabio pointed out that the invitation extended to the IMC by the Senate is part of its legitimate and statutory function.

As a Minority Leader of the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Akpabio recognizes the inherent duty of the National Assembly to carry out oversight functions and would not want sponsored commentators to mislead or insult the hallowed chambers with mischievous headlines such as “SENATE GOOFED” Or NASS invitation amounts to ‘busy bodying’.

Whilst  the Honourable Minister disassociates himself from those intemperate languages, he hopes the Distinguished Senators and Honourable members would see those twisted support for what they are - part of the organized campaign of calumny  against the Minister and the IMC of NDDC by opponents of the ongoing forensic audit of the Commission.

The correct position is that Senator Akpabio welcomed the Ad-Hoc Committee set up by the Senate to probe the purported expenditure of N40B naira pointing out that no NDDC money is missing under the watch of Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei.

On the invitation by the House of Representatives, Senator Akpabio had indicated his readiness to honour the invitation whenever it is extended to him, because he holds the National Assembly in very high esteem being an institution he will belong forever.

The Minister calls for an end to comments and slants by bloggers and activists capable of affecting the excellent relationship existing between the National Assembly and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

Finally, the Honourable Minister expresses his happiness with the solidarity and support shown by the people of the Niger Delta for the ongoing forensic audit of the NDDC and other initiatives of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari aimed at repositioning the interventionist agency for better service delivery, and urges the people not to disparage any arm of government for carrying out a-statutory duty.


Sir Etekamba Umoren
Chief of Staff to the
Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

May 9, 2020.