Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to provide documentary evidence to support his allegation that he introduced a 50% deduction from payments to contractors handling projects for the Niger Delta Development Commission. Akpabio described the allegation as weighty and noted that Amaechi had yet to provide contract documents, payment records, or details of identifiable transactions to substantiate it.
Amaechi made the allegation while addressing supporters at the ADC campaign rally held at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi State on Saturday. He also criticized President Bola Tinubu over the country's economic hardship. Akpabio's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, issued a statement on Sunday in Abuja, in which Akpabio challenged Amaechi to identify the contractors affected, the contracts involved, when the deductions were allegedly made, and the payment arrangements through which they occurred.
Akpabio demanded evidence linking him personally to the alleged practice, stating that an allegation delivered before an enthusiastic political audience does not, by that circumstance alone, acquire the status of an established fact. He urged Amaechi to submit any credible evidence in his possession to the appropriate investigative authorities rather than using the allegation for political confrontation.
Akpabio also turned the spotlight on Amaechi's eight-year administration in Rivers State, which lasted from 2007 to 2015. He cited the Port Harcourt monorail project, which became controversial over its reported cost, incomplete implementation, and failure to deliver the anticipated public transportation service. The Senate President mentioned the Malaria-free Rivers State initiative, arguing that public officials should be prepared to account for expenditure, project delivery, and value for money.
According to Akpabio, questions surrounding the projects should include the amount spent, the extent to which their original objectives were achieved, and the institutional and contractual decisions that contributed to their outcomes. He stated that public accountability does not begin and end with one's political opponents, but extends to every public official entrusted with resources, authority, and responsibility.
Akpabio maintained that the approaching 2027 general elections should not provide an excuse for making unsubstantiated allegations, adding that issues concerning the finances and administration of the NDDC deserved credible investigation. The commission was established to address developmental challenges in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, particularly its infrastructure and environmental needs.
Akpabio stressed that the interests of the region's residents should remain central to discussions about the commission, emphasizing the need for transparent procurement, completed projects, and measurable developmental outcomes. He added that Amaechi was entitled to raise concerns about public administration but had a responsibility to distinguish between allegations and claims backed by evidence.
Key points
- Akpabio challenges Amaechi to provide evidence supporting his NDDC deductions allegation.
- Amaechi made the allegation during an ADC campaign rally in Bauchi State.
- Akpabio urges Amaechi to submit credible evidence to investigative authorities.
