… DENIES RIFT WITH UDOEDEGHE
TheHILL. | POLITICS | April 29, 2021.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswil Akpabio has appealed to Nigerians to stop the blame game and join hands to tackle the worsening security issues in the country.
Akpabio, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom, made the remarks while addressing the Media before a closed-door meeting with members of the Caretaker Committee at the All-Progressives Congress at the National Secretariat in Abuja.
Akpabio said the current security challenges in the country are politically motivated and required collective efforts to unravel their sponsors in order to fast track the efforts and desire to build a united Nigeria.
The Niger Delta Affairs Minister acknowledged the activities of the Governor Mai Mala Buni led APC Caretaker Committee towards ensuring positive transformation in line with the mandate given to them, which he said is yielding the desired results.
The Minister who later had a closed door meeting with the Secretary of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe explained “The issues of insecurity for me has already assumed a very worrisome dimension, if you notice, it is not limited to one region, it is not a function of North East, it is not a function of South East, even in the South South, even in my own local government, and if you read everyday what is happening in Benue State and other States, we have never in the history of this nation witnessed where people in uniform are targeted for elimination. That will show you that we have infiltrators in our midst.”
Akpabio highlighted that the security of neighbouring countries must also remain a priority, adding that all the heavy arms in Nigeria today came into the country after Mammah Gadaffi was taken out, and people looted the arms.
He added, “in Chad and Niger Republic, people buy arms like they buy petrol by the road side in Nigeria.”
The Minister opined that “Niger Delta region is the most peaceful region today in the country due to the amnesty programme of the government.”
According to him ” I think most of it is from outside influence. Most of the actions you see today are politically motivated, to try to derail the government but the government will not be deterred. And there is nothing that lasts forever, you know that everything that goes up must come down. Therefore, the insecurity you are seeing today, you will not see it again.”
Akpabio also denied any frosty relationship between himself and Akpanudoedehe, saying there has never been anytime the duo had any issues.
In his words, “We have never quarrelled with one another. In fact, we have always cooperated with one another, if anything, he will use his mouth to tell you how we used to dance Kokoma, holding hands together, then we go down and come up again. All these things happened in the 2019 elections, when we tried to install the APC government in Akwa Ibom State, until there were conflicts from both within and without, and that effort was shattered. And I don’t want that to happen again.
On his part, the Secretary described Akpabio’s visit a surprise one and also denied having fracas with the Minister.
He added that politicians are people who can easily resolve their problems without fighting.
