2015 Presidency: Shema, Apkabio’s posters flood Abuja

Gov. Godswill Akpabio

by Olusola Fabiyi

The Presidential campaign posters of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State as presidential and vice presidential aspirants for the 2015 election surfaced in Abuja on Wednesday.

The colourful posters, which were seen at some strategic places in Wuse and Maitama, adorned walls and electricity poles.

The governors are members of the Peoples Democratic, which has asked its members to concentrate on governance instead of politicking.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who is believed to be interested in a second term, had also asked members of the party not to campaign for 2015.

He had specifically asked his aides not to drag him into the 2015 race, saying he would speak on whether he had interest in the race or not in 2014.

Akpabio has, however, distanced himself from the posters, denying having presidential ambition in 2015.

The governor said this in a statement by his Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aniekan Umanah.

Akpabio, who is the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, said he did not mandate anyone to print posters for him.

The statement read, “The attention of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio has been drawn to sudden emergence of posters in some parts of Abuja, bearing his image and that of the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema for Presidency 2015.

“For the avoidance of doubt, His Excellency, Chief Akpabio clearly dissociates himself from the printing and circulation of these poster, which is clearly the handiwork of mischief makers, who are bent on heating up the polity for no reason whatsoever.

“We state emphatically that Governor Akpabio is not interested in the Presidency in 2015 and has not mandated anybody to campaign for him.

“In fact, he has made it very clear that based on the pressure by the good people of Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District, he wishes to represent them at the Senate in 2015.

Culled from PUNCH