Youths from Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Edo and Akwa-Ibom states are not happy with Godswill Akpabio, senator-elect for Akwa-Ibom North-West district for what they called his lackluster performance when he was minister of Niger-Delta.
Grouping under the aegis of the Anti Corruption Crusaders Network, they shut down the East~West road, the only road linking the whole of the region to other parts of the country, asking for the probe of Akpabio. They also asked Bola Tinubu, president of Nigeria, to move against his senate presidency bid.
Akpabio, former Akwa-Ibom state governor, is contesting tomorrow’s Nigeria’s senate presidency.
With placards, bearing various unprintable anti-Akpabio inscriptions, the youths said they are not proud that the 60-year old is contesting the exalted position of senate presidency, alleging that he performed woefully as minister of Niger-Delta.
One of the leaders of the protesters who did not want names mentioned, said “Don’t support any criminal in your government. The likes of Sen. Godswill Akpabio should not be named president of the senate in the 10th National Assembly. It will be like a cat kept in the same room with fishes. It will devour them. Like goat in the same room with yams. We the people of Niger delta region are saying that Sen. Akpabio is grossly incompetent going by his record when he was minister of Niger-Delta. He did everything alone. Every employment he did, he gave everything to Akwa Ibom state.”
Another said: “I can understand the pain of our youths. It is very unfortunate where the wealth of this country is coming from still going through this kind of perennial pain and suffering. Look at the road— the only road that feeds the Niger delta economy. The FG needs to respond to the challenges of Niger-Delta urgently especially this road. Some of our leaders have betrayed us. In appointing leaders, we need to look at their track records. The golden eggs were laid from this place. We want reformation. There are people who are not supposed to be there. Akpabio knows himself. He has squandered our commonwealth. He was there as a minister, he did nothing. Senate presidency is an exalted position. The number three man in the country must be someone that is fearless, someone that isn’t stained. Akpabio has messed us up. We are not happy. What is he going back there to do? Must we keep recycling old politicians? “
