Akwa Ibom: Akpabio denies rift with Emmanuel
Senate Minority Leader and former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, has denied media speculations that he is embroiled in a rift with his successor, Governor Udom Emmanuel.
He described such insinuations as the handiwork of political jobbers.
Akpabio, in a statement, in Abuja, by his Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong, said, so far, he is satisfied with the performance of Governor Emmanuel. He said he cannot engage in a feud with an administration that Ikot Ekpene senatorial district played a significant role in its emergence.
“It is obvious that the concerns raised by the senator during the end-of-year stakeholders’ meeting organised by the deputy governor, that all was not well, was misunderstood and political jobbers sought to feast on it.
“What the senator said was that their House should be put in order so that the votes from Ikot Ekpene senatorial district would be put intact for Governor Emmanuel in the next election.
“Akpabio is satisfied that the areas of concern raised by the stakeholders, which were further explained by the governor during the follow-up meeting with him, to the satisfaction of the stakeholders present at the meeting, were receiving the attention of the government,” the statement said.
Akpabio commended Governor Emmanuel for working with security agencies to eliminate a notorious militant, Akaninyene Jumbo, alias Iso Akpafid, who had killed many citizens of Ukanafun council and its environs and rendered many refugees in the last one year, which he noted was another area of concern by stakeholders of Ikot Ekpene senatorial district.
He said with the killing of the hoodlum, peace would return to that part of the senatorial district.
The statement said Akpabio had consistently pointed out that Ikot Ekpene senatorial district would stand by Emmanuel and pledged the support of the people towards the re-election of the governor with its over 500,000 votes.
The release cautioned those making inciting statements, to create a wedge between the senator and the governor, to desist from it as they were only doing so for their personal benefits.
He sued for peace in the state and advised politicians to desist from politics of hatred and blackmail which would not augur well for the unity of the state.
