The Iduwini Volunteer Force (IVF)- a Niger Delta former militant group- has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The group demanded for the “urgent return” of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the supervision of the presidency.

The group, in a statement signed by one of its leaders, Johnson Biboye, alleged that the minister was upsetting the peace in the volatile region through the setting up of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to run the NDDC.

It urged President Buhari to discard the three-man committee constituted by the minister and described it as a “smoke screen put in place to cover up huge financial atrocities that has been committed by notable figures in the Niger Delta, Chief Godswill Akpabio, inclusive.”

Part of the statement reads, “we are saddened that in spite of your administration concerted desire to ensure that the underdevelopment challenges confronting the Niger Delta region is tackled with more seriousness, we are force to report to you that activities of one of your political appointee Chief Godswill Akpabio who is currently minister of Niger Delta Affairs is threatening the fragile peace in the Niger delta region.

“As critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta peace process, the leadership of the Iduwini Volunteer Force (IVF) having complied with the federal government Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) believes that the only thing that can return our troop back to the creeks is the type been perpetuated by your minister of Niger Delta Affairs without any control from the Government of the day.

“As a former governor of Akwa bom state Chief Godswill Akpabio is an interested and active participant in the multi- billion Naira fraud that has taken place in the NDDC and for such a person to be given the responsibility to superintend over such organization is not only fraudulent but an invitation to avoidable crisis

“Having critically reviewed the pathetic situation the meeting resolved that federal government under your able leadership should sack Chief Godswill Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and urgently return the NDDC back to the Presidency to avoid selfishly motivated individuals from wanting to control the regional developmental agency.

“The meeting also resolved that the already screened board of the NDDC nominated by your very self be given a matching order to resume just as you should appoint reputable and globally recognized accounting firm to carry out the proposed forensic probe.”

The group said if its advice is ignored its members may be forced to return to the creeks.

“While we look forward to your early resolution of this impending avoidable crisis we want to say that our present peaceful disposition should not be taken for weakness as we are still capable of striking when we are pushed the wall,” the group stressed.