Pressure group demands probe of NDDC projects ‘diversion’ to Kogi central

The Southern Nigeria Leaders of Thought, a political pressure group, has condemned an alleged campaign of calumny against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, had recently accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her.

The allegation came in the wake of her seating arrangement altercation with Akpabio at the red chamber.

She was subsequently suspended from the senate for “gross misconduct” over the debacle.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Princewill Chibuike, the group’s president, and Oluwatobi Johnson, general secretary, described the “unwarranted onslaught” against the senate president as distasteful.

They said the attacks were a deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of the senate and the federal government.

“We find it pitiable that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is not only married to a son of the South but has also been a major beneficiary of Southern-led development initiatives, has chosen to malign and discredit the political leadership of the South-South region, particularly Senate President Godswill Akpabio and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the group said.

“It is on record, with numerous pieces of evidence including pictorial documentation, that projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have been executed in Okene, Kogi State.

“These projects, originally meant for the Niger Delta region, have been siphoned away to non-Niger Delta areas under circumstances that demand urgent investigation. As stakeholders in the Niger Delta, we can no longer fold our arms and watch as resources meant for our region are diverted under our very noses.

“We, therefore, call on the various anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to immediately commence a thorough probe into the NDDC’s operations.

“The commission must explain how projects meant for the oil-producing Niger Delta states found their way to the North, in blatant violation of the purpose for which the NDDC was established.

“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s incessant street drama and media theatrics have not only ridiculed the distinguished chambers of the Nigerian Senate but have also brought the Federal Government of Nigeria into disrepute.”

According to the group, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions have fueled a divisive north-south narrative at a time when the nation is in dire need of unity and cohesion.

“It is important to state that Senator Natasha is neither the first nor the only female Senator in the National Assembly. Her continued antics, therefore, do not represent a struggle for gender inclusion but rather a personal agenda aimed at destabilizing the Senate,” the group noted.

“In light of these developments, we, the Southern Nigeria Leaders of Thought, unequivocally declare our full support for the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio.

“He has demonstrated exemplary leadership not only in the Senate but also in the Niger Delta region, bringing a renewed sense of direction and accountability that has been absent for a long time.

“Equally, we wish to express our profound support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As stakeholders in the Nigerian project, we acknowledge the strides being made by his government in repositioning Nigeria on the global stage.

“Nigeria is at a critical juncture, and as leaders of thought, we must rise above distractions and focus on the collective good of our people. We urge the Nigerian Senate to remain steadfast and not be swayed by the theatrics of those who seek to derail its mission.”