Gov Udom under fire over media attacks against his predecessor Sen Akpabio
NIGERIA – A socio-political organization known as Akwa Ibom Progressives Youth Forum, has frowned at the State Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and those the group referred to as agents of his government, over recent media attacks and blackmails against his predecessor, Distinguished Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio.
Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio, who until recently was the Senate Minority Leader, defected from the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the wee days of massive defection in Nigerian political space lately.
Akpabio’s defection, according to comments in the media, does not go down well with the Gov. Udom Emmanuel-led PDP in the state and, as the group noted, have reportedly resorted to media attacks on the former Senate Minority Leader.
Reacting, the Akwa Ibom youth group said it was infantile for, according to them, Gov. Udom Emmanuel to threaten his former boss, maintaining that it was “defeatist” to resort to sponsorship of unnecessary attacks and blackmails against Akpabio, whom they said brought him to limelight.
“We have noted with utmost dismay the incessant media attacks orchestrated and sponsored by Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state and those known to be in his payroll, and their agents, against the person of the immediate-past governor, now Distinguished Senator (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, who is also the immediate-past Senate Minority Leader.
It is common knowledge that these recent but unnecessary attacks and blackmails against the Former Governor, is in response to his decision to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC”, parts of the forum’s statement read.
The group chided those they call ‘willing tools’ saying, “We are further perplexed that those who made themselves willing tools for the blackmail sponsors were direct or indirect beneficiaries of the administration of the very man they have chosen to vilify today. We the youths of Akwa Ibom state can only ask Governor Udom Emmanuel to tell us how many youths he has legitimately and tangibly empowered since the inception of his administration, nearly four years ago”.
The statement which was signed by the group’s National President, Mr. Ifiok Simon, National Secretary, Comrade Gabriel Afangideh and forty seven others comprising National Executives and chapter coordinators, also expressed their worry over what they termed “resort to campaigns of calumny against our national leader”, warning them to desist.
The forum’s statement released shortly after an emergency meeting held at St Patrick’s Primary School, Abak Road, Uyo, on Friday, further advised the governor to focus on campaigns for his “ill-fated” reelection bid rather than attempting to run down Sen. Akpabio.
TheProfileNews contributed to this report