������Ƶ

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The Deputy Leader, Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Consultative Forum, Òtuekong Thomas Akpan, has advised the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to tender an unreserved apology to former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, and the people of the state for what he described as “unguarded statement” aimed at inciting and misleading the people.

Akpan, a former member of Cross River State House of Assembly, also advised Akpabio to concentrate on his work as the Senate president and be wary of causing political crises in Akwa Ibom State.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom elder noted with displeasure the remarks by the Senate president that there was no development in Akwa Ibom State until he became the governor in 2007, and his boast as the APC leader in the state to reclaim the state in 2027 elections.

Senator Akpabio had during the recent stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in all the three senatorial districts of the state said though the state is christened the ‘Land of Promise’, “ such promises were never fulfilled by successive governments until during his time as governor, adding that he came and blazed the trail of development before others followed.

Akpabio at the forum boasted that he would ensure that APC takes over Akwa Ibom State in 2027, stressing that: “It would be an aberration for the number three citizen not to produce a governor from the same party at the end of an election. You know wherever the Senate president is, that is where the party is. We will produce an APC governor in 2027.”

Irked by Senator Akpabio’s comments, Akpan wondered how Akpabio forgot in a hurry the developmental strides of his predecessor, Obong Attah, whom he served as his commissioner for eight years.

Enumerating some of the major projects executed by Obong Attah, the former lawmaker said: “It is unthinkable for Senator Akpabio to say that Akwa Ibom State never experienced what he described as real development until he became the governor in 2007.

“It is on record that Attah established landmark projects such as Ibom Airport, Ibom Icon and Golf Course, Major Highways, Akwa Ibom master plan, Ibom power plant, Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Company Limited among others.

“Apart from the above mentioned landmark projects, Obong Attah also established a science park, University of Science and Technology at Ikot Akpaden, and initiated Ibom Deep Seaport.

“Godswill Akpabio should tender unreserved apology to Obong Victor Attah and indeed the people of Akwa Ibom State. He should stop making unguarded and inciting statements. I sincerely beg Akpabio to sheath his sword.”

The statement added: “Let me challenge Senator Akpabio to tell us or point out one or two projects he brought to Akwa Ibom State during his tenure as the Senate Minority leader for four years and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and now as the president of the Senate.

“It is also an empty boast to hear Akpabio say that it would be an aberration if he, as number three person in Nigeria, not take over Akwa Ibom State for APC in 2027. This is a usual empty boast. He made a similar boast in 2019 to unseat Governor Udom Emmanuel but failed woefully.”

Reacting, the Special Adviser to Senate President on Media and Publicity, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, said there was no need to reply to such, adding that the facts are there for people to see.

He said: “It not everything one has to reply to, and if he said Akpabio did not do anything, the people are there and you are also there. The facts speak for itself.”