How Buhari Silenced Akpabio’s Detractors In Akwa Ibom

By Ifiok Itiaba, Uyo

The emergence of the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio as the ministerial nominee from the state is stoking different e state has continued to generate reactions within the state.

In fact Akpabio’s emergence actually came as a surprise to many in Akwa Ibom given the series of petitions reportedly authored by his perceived detractors in the All Progressives Congress, APC. Out of the determination to settle past personal scores especially when Akpbabio was governor, they had reportedly flooded the presidency with petitions against the former lawmaker and governor.

The weight of the pressure even made some to believe that the former Senate Minority Leader may have given in to the pressure and that that may have caused him to show more attendance at the National Assembly Election Tribunal where he is fighting to reverse the declaration that he lost the Senate election to Senator Chris Ekpenyong of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

His nomination as a minister has, however, continued to attract congratulatory messages from his friends, loyalists and teeming supporters from the state on the social media.

Congratulations have also come from those who were believed to have authored the petitions against the nominee.

Expectedly, the State chapter of the APC was among the first to officially congratulate and thank the president for nominating him.

The chairman and secretary of the state chapter of the APC, Mr. Ini Okopido and Mr. Augustine Ekanem respectively described his appointment as a reward for hard work.

“Senator Akpabio was our governor for eight years and he performed marvelously well in all those eight years. He is an astute politician, a sterling administrator and effective leader. 

His service as senator between 20I5 and 20I9 was equally glorious and satisfactory.

But what has surprised many in the state, especially Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stakeholders is the fact  that the congratulatory messages to Akpabio have also come from some of those perceived to have authored the petitions against him.

The gist among some stakeholders is that President Muhammadu Buhari has played a fast one on Akpabio’s traducers by silencing them with the appointment.

Meanwhile, another argument going on in the state especially in Akpabio’s Ikot Ekpene base is whether he will continue with the case he filed against his PDP opponent, Christopher Ekpenyong. 

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