Just In: Group Condemns Akpabio For Allegations Against Former Governor Udom (Details)

Just In: Group Condemns Akpabio For Allegations Against Former Governor Udom (Details)

The Association of Eket Senatorial District Media Professionals in Akwa Ibom State has faulted Senator Godswill Akpabio’s claims that his successor, Mr Udom Emmanuel did not do any project for the people of Ikot Ekpene and Eket Senatorial districts in the state.

They, however, told the senate president not to push them into digging up documents that would show his activities when he was the governor which may not project him in a good light.

Akpabio in a trending video said his successor, Mr Emmanuel never left any imprint in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district, Akpabio’s district, and Eket Senatorial district, Udom’s district) as a governor.

Akpabio made the comments in response to Senator Ekong Sampson’s plea at the chambers for the inclusion of Akwa Ibom in a bill that sought to establish new federal medical centers in Nigeria.

He said, “I gave you a governor (Udom Emmanuel) who for eight years did not do anything for the people of Ikot Ekpene and Eket Senatorial district, he did not leave any imprint.”

Reacting, the group in a statement signed by its Director of Public and Strategic Communication, Joseph Ekong on Tuesday described Akpabio’s comment as an “unguarded and illogical response” to an honest contribution by Senator Ekong Sampson (Akwa-Ibom South).

The group said it was shocked to discover in a video clip that Senator Akpabio actually made the comment at the hallowed chambers of the upper legislative house.

The statement in parts, “As patriots from Akwa Ibom State, we had sworn not to join issues with our son who is Senate President on issues like this, and we fervently pray that he dares not push us to the point where we will have to bring documents that will tell his story better to the whole world.

“To start with, the allegation by the Senate President was an unguarded and illogical response to an honest contribution that Senator Ekong Sampson had made for the inclusion of Akwa Ibom in a bill that sought to establish new federal medical centers in the country.

“The Senate president’s response to this was that Udom Emmanuel, his successor in office, left no imprint in his Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and even in Eket Senatorial District. What a sad commentary.

“Under the uncommon transformation era of Akpabio as Governor, Eket Senatorial District never knew roads infrastructure beyond the ground-breaking stage, irrespective of being the contributor of 40% of revenue into the coffers of the federation account, the only road access roads to the senatorial district, Uyo – Etinan – Eket Road, did not move beyond the groundbreaking stage.

While noting that it would not refresh Akpabio’s memory with the achievements recorded in Eket during Governor Udom Emmanuel’s tenure, the group said it would rather concentrate on the Ikot-Ekpene district to clear the misinformation peddled by the Senate President.

The group advised the senate president to use his good office to add value to his people and not to pull his kinsman down at every given opportunity.

“It is rather nauseating that at such a national platform where Senator Akpabio would have been a unifying figure to attract development to his home state like others before he did for their states, he is busily shadow-punching a man who has refused to respond to his vitriolic attacks.” The statement added