Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has cautioned media houses against using his name and photographs as one of the purported presidential aspirants in 2023, in any of their discussion platforms.

A statement endorsed by his Chief Press Secretary, Jackson Udom, said: “It has come to the notice of the Hon Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio, that despite his calls on 2023 Presidential Election Campaigners, that he be allowed to focus on the national assignment of assisting President Mohammadu Buhari to achieve his set goals for the people of Niger Delta Region, they have refused to respect the position of the Hon Minister.

“On Sunday, 17th October, 2021, Channels Television’s political discussion and interview programme,Politics Today, anchored by Mr Seun Okinbaloye, listed the name of the Hon. Minister and went ahead to use his photograph as one of those purportedly eyeing the presidential seat in 2023.

“As a politician and a serving Minister of the Federal Republic who understands the distractions such unsolicited action(s) could cause in the polity, the Hon Minister, has therefore, for the umpteenth time, called on groups, individuals and media houses, either Newspapers, Television, Radio or Online discussion platforms, to forthwith, stop associating his name and picture whenever 2023 Presidential discussions are being held.

“The Hon Minister, for the records, has not consulted any individual or groups nor has he declared interest in contesting the 2023 presidential election as being rumoured. What is topmost in the mind of the Hon. Minister is how to assist President Mohammadu Buhari to leave a lasting legacy in the Niger Delta Region and to reposition the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to deliver on its mandate.

“The Hon Minister, therefore, appeals to media houses and 2023 campaigners to let him be because he has a job at hand and will not want to be distracted on an issue he has not contracted, consulted nor discussed with anybody.”