APC’s attempt to take over Akwa Ibom in 2027 will fail – stakeholders replies Akpabio

Senator Godswill Akpabio has been asked to apologize by the Akwa Ibom Professionals, a collection of state stakeholders and professionals, for his remarks made against former governor Obong Victor Attah and other previous leaders.

The group’s national coordinator, Engr. Ufot Akan Umoren, also charged him with using polarizing strategies to undermine the existing government and further his political goals in a statement released in Abuja on Sunday.

Recently, Akpabio—a former governor himself—came under fire for asserting that Akwa Ibom had not seen any significant growth prior to his government in 2007. He also took pride in building other infrastructure, such as dual carriageways, as though these were ground-breaking accomplishments in the state’s history.

The text of the statement is, “Senator Akpabio’s deeds and words reveal him to be a healthy, conceited human being. He has gone too far by denigrating the character and work of His Excellency Obong Victor Attah, the man responsible for creating the present Akwa Ibom State, and even Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, the first indigenous governor of the state.

“It is ridiculous and an unacceptable spurning of the legacy and groundbreaking achievements of Obong Victor Attah and other leaders, which the state continues to enjoy even for future generations. His unfounded claim that Akwa Ibom State never experienced real development until he (Akpabio) became the governor in 2007 is.”

The government of Obong Victor Attah is credited for laying the groundwork and creating the master plan for the development of Akwa Ibom State. Every accomplishment Senator Akpabio has made while serving as governor of Akwa Ibom has its origins in the Attah government.

Major landmark projects such as the Ibom Airport, major highways, dualization projects, gas processing projects, the Ibom Icon and Golf Course, and a number of legacy projects that will benefit the people of Akwa Ibom State for many years to come were initiated, conceptualized, and started to be carried out by Governor Attah.

Above all, Obong Victor Attah led the charge in the struggle for the derivative money that the State is now receiving.

For six years, Senator Akpabio was a commissioner in Governor Attah’s administration. Who was he before Governor Attah chose him and gave him the chances that helped him advance to the position of governor? Akpabio embodies a classic case of the impoverished child who bites the hands that provide him with food.

After profiting from Akwa Ibom State, it is disgusting that Akpabio is going around making inflammatory, inciting, and divisive political statements that have the potential to spark a crisis and destabilize the State, rather than working with other leaders to take the State to the next level under Governor Umo Eno’s current administration.

As the Senate President, we challenge Senator Akpabio to list any accomplishments during his four years as Senate Minority Leader, his four years as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, and his current position. He ought to bring forward one suggestion he ever made to support Nigeria’s economy. He has nothing to point to, of course.

“As we will not hesitate to resist further attempts to divide the state with ethnic seeds of discord, we counsel Senator Akpabio to retrace his steps by tendering an unconditional apology to Obong Victor Attah, other leaders, the government, and people of Akwa Ibom State.”

“Akpabio ought to honor the electorate’s decision to elect Governor Eno, focus on his responsibilities as Senate President in Abuja, and quit sulking about Akwa Ibom State,” the group declared.