The Citizens Network For Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN) has passed a vote of confidence on the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and reaffirmed its faith in the competence and transformational leadership of the number three citizen.
The group, in a statement signed by its executive director, Francis Okereke Wainwei, declared that Akpabio was a blessing to the country and the Niger Delta region and called on all his critics to be factual, constructive and patriotic.
Wainwei said the call became necessary, following the emergence of a new trend of frivolous criticisms orchestrated to tarnish the image of the Senate President and reduce his popularity, especially in the Niger Delta region.
He said majority of those criticisms were heavily laced with bitterness as well as negative political sentiments and called on all such critics to eschew bitterness and political sentiments while expressing their opinions concerning the leadership trajectory of Akpabio.
“We are also using this medium to call on Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe to do an objective analysis and a thorough research on the tenure of Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to enable him arrive at a more accurate and informed account of events within the period. Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe should thereafter render an unreserved apology to the Senate President for making such unfounded , spurious, malicious and reckless statement against him.
“It’s a well-known fact that Chief Godswill Akpabio sanitised the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and repositioned it to be able to effectively execute its original mandate of bringing development to the Niger Delta communities.
“The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) before the emergence of Chief Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was a ‘conduit pipe’ servicing the financial interests of a few individuals in contrast to its mandate of developing the Niger Delta communities. The current success and progress at the agency were made possible by the uncommon transformational leadership of Chief Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
“Akpabio has also enthroned legislative excellence and stability in the National Assembly. His transformational leadership and vision have made the National Assembly to be more result-oriented and productive. He is indeed a blessing to Nigeria and the Niger Delta Region. He should be celebrated and not vilified. He is a true Ambassador of the Niger Delta people,” he said.
