Senator Akpabio Not Our National Coordinator – PSC Says

…Says, the Niger Delta minister is on suspension

BY SALISU IBRAHIM FAGGAE, ABUJA – The national leadership of Presidential Support Committee (PSC) has disowned Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpbio as its National Coordinator.

The PSC is a support group that was initiated by a seasoned politician, Hon. Gideon Samani and was galvanised into action with strong support of notable politicians, technocrats, patriotic citizens and seasoned administrators, with the goal of working for the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, President Muhammad Buhari in 2019.

It therefore stressed that for the avoidance of doubt, Senator Akpabio is not its National Coordinator as he has been suspended by the organisation since June, 2021, for inactivity, lack of good leadership style and effective management.

The PSC specifically said that the suspension of Akpabio is yet to be lifted, adding that the suspension of Akpabio followed the resolution reached at an expanded meeting in June 2021 during which the organization thoroughly reviewed its activities as well as the performance of its leaders, where it founded Senator Akpabio the then National Coordinator, short of measuring up to its standards and therefore handed down an indefinite suspension to him owing to his lack of good leadership style, ineffective management and inactivity that cannot move the organization forward.

The PSC in a statement by Hon. Gideon Samani, National Chairman and Founder and Dr. Kailani Muhammad, Director, Media & Publicity, said that the organization has equally removed moles within its rank particularly people that were identified to be working underground to subvert the organization and divide its members for their selfish interests.

The statement further said that the PSC has fully rebranded, with committed and forward looking leaders under the able leadership of Hon. Gideon Samani, adding that the task before the organization now, is to face the challenges of working for the emergence of the most credible successor of President Buhari in 2023, hence it will not condone any distraction from anybody.

According to the PSC; “To our dismay however, Senator Akpabio, who is the Minister of Niger Delta, and was suspended for inactivity and poor leadership in June last year, is brimming to cause disharmony by supporting and promoting divisive elements glaringly working for him in order to cause disaffection among PSC members and its leadership.

“As far as PSC is concerned, the indefinite suspension order handed down to Senator Akpabio, has not been lifted and it can only be lifted by an expanded gathering of PSC stakeholders that approved the suspension.

So far, the organization is yet to hold such an expanded meeting to review the suspension order, hence the minister remained suspended.

“As a person occupying a very critical ministry, the Minister should desist from parading himself as PSC National Coordinator, or using some moles and political jobbers to divide the organization. He should not sink so low by intruding into the affairs of PSC, which he has no stake whatsoever.

“We respect the office of the Minister of Federal Republic and we also expect the Minister to take his assignment seriously, by devoting time and attention to the development of Niger Delta Region, which unfortunately is apparently lacking proper handling under his watch.

“Therefore, instead of dwelling into the affairs of PSC, which he has no stake at the moment, the Minister should focus more on how to make Niger Delta Region a better place by supporting President Muhammad Buhari to realise his objective of making the area a better place to live.

“If PSC was so dear and important to him and regard the organization as the platform he rode and became minister, Akpabio should not have abandoned it (PSC) or continue to accommodate disgruntled and divisive elements. Hence, the best thing the Minister should have done, which would have been more deserving, is to take the honourable path by apologizing to the leadership in order to be reintegrated.

“One important thing to note, is that the rebranded PSC is out with a mission and vision to support the administration of President Muhammad Buhari and also support the emergence of his most credible successor in 2023 under a very effective APC leadership.

“Unless Senator Akpabio seeks to reintegrate by apologizing to work for the attainment of these important tasks, PSC has no place for him,” it said.

The PSC said it has membership and structures across all the 36 states of the federation, 774 local government areas as well as Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.