NDDC Saga: ‘Akpabio Is Deceitful’, Says Ateke Tom, Backs Tompolo’s Ultimatum

A former Niger Delta militant leader and now Amayanabo (king) Okochiri Kingdom in Rivers State, HRM king Michael Ateke Tom, has taken a swipe at the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio over failure to appoint a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He said that it is clear that Akpabio is deceitful and he means no good to the Niger Delta region particularly the Ijaws given his attitude towards reconstituting the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Ateke Tom spoke in alignment with the seven days ultimatum handed the Federal Government by one of the foremost Ex-Militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo also known as Tompolo over the immediate constitution of the substantive board for the NDDC.

BIGPENNGR had reported that the 7-days ultimatum would expire on Saturday, 5 June, 2021.

King Ateke Tom, who was a former Leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Force, in a statement on Friday through his Chief of Staff, Chief Tamunokonba Akaluogbo, said the decision to back the seven days ultimatum is due to the continued insincerity and open deceit by Akpabio.

He, however called on President Muhammad Buhari to heed to the clamour by the stakeholders in the region for the immediate constitute a substantive board.

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Ateke Tom said the stakeholders in the region desire to sustain the existing peace in the region despite the rising insecurity in the South East and other regions, saying “the setting up of a substantive board is not too small to ask by a region disposed to keeping the peace and rejecting secessionist pressure.

“It is clear that Akpabio is deceitful and he means no good to the Niger Delta region particularly the Ijaws given his attitude towards reconstituting the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. Time and time, the Minister has failed in his promises and he is using the forensic audit as a decoy for his selfish aims.

“I urge him to do the needful before the region tilt towards upheaval of break down of law and order again because his ineptitude and lack of genuine concern for the demands of people are capable of degenerating into violence which I don’t pray for”.