Outrageous! Akpabio calls Attah ‘local champion’, asks youths to rebel against elders (audio attached to the story)

 

 

File photo: Gov. Godswill Akpabio

 

(N/B: scroll down to listen to the audio of Gov. Akpabio's speech at the end of the story.)

 

 



By Nse Peter

 

Governor Godswill Akpabio during an inter-denominational church service on Sunday, at Ibom Hall ground, Uyo, to mark the 27^th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State, threw modesty to the winds and outrageously asked youths in the state to rise up against political elders as the state prepares for 2015 governorship election.

Governor Akpabio, known for making controversial and unpopular statements, was addressing an estimated crowd of about 2,500 people, including a handful of clergymen, who had gathered at the instant of the state government for a thanksgiving as part of a-week long activities for the anniversary celebration. 

 

Akwa Ibom State was created on 23 September, 1987 by the then military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.

In a speech which was broadcast live through the state-owned AKBC radio and television stations, and also to a global audience through some cable TV stations and Internet live streaming, Godswill Akpabio charged the youth “this is my last anniversary celebration with you, but I am challenging you – Akwa Ibom children – the future belong to you, not to your elders. Your fathers have done their bids, don’t look at them. It is time to do positive rebellion. Rise up and protect your future.”

The crowd, mostly made up of women clapped and cheered on the governor.

Renting a crowd is a common phenomenon in most political gatherings in Akwa Ibom State, although Think Akwa Ibom! cannot confirm if the crowd in the event was a rented one or not.

Akpabio who sounded angry throughout his speech castigated the state political elders, accusing them of corrupting the system with ethnic and money politics. “In one day (alone) they (the elders) bless two people (governorship aspirants) because of Ghana Must Go.”  Ghana Must Go, which means large amount of money in a sack, is euphemism for corruption in Nigeria.

The governor said, “the youth of the state, you have a responsibility, the future belongs to you, not to the elders – particularly the elders who grew up in the 1960s when tribalism was brought to Nigeria during the carpet crossing in the western region. Some of those elders are still moving about with tribal things in their pockets, and they speak with both sides of their mouths.

“Some of our elders can never be united because they grew up in a period of tribalism, a period of ethnic jingoism.

“On this 27^th anniversary, my challenge to the Akwa Ibom youth today is to rise up and protect the uncommon transformation. What did I say? I say rise up and protect your future… There must be sustainability, and the only way you could do that is not to look at the elders.”

Akpabio in his speech made a veiled attempt at rubbishing the administration of his predecessor, Obong Victor Attah, saying for instance that two of the turbines he met at Ibom Power Plant were refurbished, and not new ones, and also that most of the roads he inherited from Attah’s administration have completely broken down. He said he has asked people in the private sector to buy the multi-million dollar Ibom Power Plant which was initiated by Attah.

Apparently mocking the recent reception of Victor Attah by the Ibibio people, Akpabio said: “when I leave as governor, and when you want to receive me, please let it be the whole of Akwa Ibom State, do not sectionalise it. Today, I am governor of all. When I leave, do not make me a local champion. When you are receiving me, let the people of Eastern Obolo be there, let the people of Oron be there, let all the Ibibio be there, let all the Annang be there.”

Ibom Hall, where Akpabio made his speech, was built by the then military administration of Idongesit Nkanga as a symbol of unity among the people of Akwa Ibom State. But ironically, the governor’s speech, in-house analysts in Think Akwa Ibom! argued, will likely raise more political and ethnic tension in the state.

 

(Below is the audio of Gov. Akpabio's speech at the event.)