The Mayor of Urhoboland and prominent industrialist, Eshanekpe Israel, popularly known as Akpodoro, has criticized former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, over his recent remarks downplaying the role of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the emergence of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
In a statement issued Friday from his Mayoral Palace in Ughelli, Akpodoro described Mustapha’s comments as an act of ingratitude, asserting that Tinubu was instrumental in Buhari’s ascent to the presidency under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He warned that “ingratitude is a grave sin in the eyes of God across all religions.”
Akpodoro called on Mustapha to focus instead on accounting for the billions of naira allocated for COVID-19 management during his tenure as chairman of the Presidential Task Force. He described the handling of COVID-19 funds under Mustapha as “mind-boggling,” and urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the expenditures.
Mustapha, speaking at the launch of a book by former presidential spokesman Garba Shehu titled “According to the President: A Lesson from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience”, claimed that Buhari’s popularity—not Tinubu’s support—secured APC’s victory in 2015. Akpodoro challenged this claim, questioning why Buhari had failed to win the presidency in previous attempts before aligning with Tinubu.
“General Buhari wept on national television after losing to President Goodluck Jonathan and vowed never to contest again. It was Tinubu who revived his candidacy in 2014, beginning with Buhari’s victory at the Lagos presidential primaries,” Akpodoro said. “Where was Boss Mustapha and the CPC then? What role did he play other than reaping where he did not sow?”
He further alleged that a political cabal opposed to Tinubu’s rise to power is now uncomfortable with the progress being recorded under his administration.
Recalling his personal involvement, Akpodoro said Tinubu had commissioned him, as a Niger Delta ex-militant leader, to mobilize support for Buhari in the South-South region.
He criticized a former governor of Rivers State—widely believed to be Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi—for failing to follow through on a promise to support Buhari’s campaign in the Delta, despite benefiting from an eight-year ministerial position in the Buhari government.
“None of them can match Tinubu in integrity and loyalty. He spent his personal fortune for Buhari’s victory. I witnessed it. We won’t allow anyone to distort the truth for political gain,” Akpodoro said.
He reminded Mustapha that the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which Buhari led before the APC merger, controlled only one state and lacked the national reach needed to secure a presidential win.
“If Mustapha feels strongly about it, he should contest against President Tinubu in 2027. Neither he nor his allies can defeat Tinubu when Nigerians will overwhelmingly renew his mandate,” he stated.
Akpodoro also took aim at former presidential aide Lauretta Onochie for echoing Mustapha’s claims on social media. He accused her of seeking attention in hopes of securing a political appointment and challenged her to test her popularity by running for office in 2027.
“We know the true political women in Delta State; Onochie is not among them. She should focus on herself and stop attacking the President,” Akpodoro added.
Onochie had posted on her X account in support of Mustapha’s statement, claiming Buhari’s popularity earned APC 12.5 million votes in 2015.
Akpodoro urged President Tinubu to release the white paper on the investigation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), citing allegations made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi and his wife.
