Ex-Gov Akpabio denies link with Niger Delta Avengers

The former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has denied having link with the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers.

A report published in the media had alleged that Mr. Akpabio was among the sponsors of the group which has claimed responsibility for the spates of attacks on oil and gas installations in the restive region.

Mr. Akpabio, who is the Senate Minority Leader, described the report as a “politically motivated propaganda”.
“It is a fabrication from the pit of hell from those who are profiteering from the crisis in the Niger Delta and would wish no end to it,” Mr. Akpabio said through a statement released on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that Senator Akpabio has no link with the Niger Delta Avengers or any other militant group for that matter.

“Contrarily, the position of Senator Akpabio as a foremost advocate of dialogue in resolving the Niger Delta crisis is well known. He is of the strong belief that blowing up pipelines and causing further environmental pollution of the Niger Delta is not in the interest of the region as it would take over 100 years to remediate the effects of such environmental degradation.

“Neither does he believe that economic sabotage at a time of economic recession that the nation is presently passing through can be an answer to the Niger Delta problem.”

The former governor cautioned against politicizing the Niger Delta crisis.

“What the nation needs is concerted efforts by stakeholders to holistically through dialogue address the grievances of the region which luckily President Muhammadu Buhari has already started.”