Essien Udim people apologise to Attah, Eiebet, Umana and others over Akpabio

Ambassador Aniefiok Akpan, President, Essien Udim Council on Political Affairs

By Nse Peter

The people of Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have apologised to former governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah, former petroleum minister, Chief Don Etiebet and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the state, Mr. Umana Okon Umana for the humiliation they have suffered at different times in the hands of Governor Godswill Akpabio.

The people under the aegis of Essien Udim Council on Political Affairs acknowledged in a press statement, Saturday, the contributions Attah, Etiebet, Umana and other politicians in the state have made in the political career of Governor Godswill Akpabio.

“Council wishes to tender apology to Obong Victor Attah, Chief Don Etiebet, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, Bishop Samuel Akpan, Obong Bassey Albert Akpan, Dr. Ime Sampson Umanah, Obong Nsima Ekere and several other politicians who have been humiliated at one time or the other by Chief Godswill Akpabio, in spite of their individual and collective political investments on Chief Akpabio that had enable him (Akpabio) to reach where he is now in the politics of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria,” the group said in a statement signed by its president, Ambassador Aniefiok Akpan.

The group disassociated the people of Essien Udim from recent utterances of Akpabio against Attah and other elders in Akwa Ibom.

Governor Godswill Akpabio is currently engaged in what appears to be an endless political battle against party elders like Victor Attah, Don Etiebet, Senator Aloysius Etok, former minister of women affairs, Obong Rita Akpan.

During the last anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio arrogantly made a veiled reference to former governor, Victor Attah as ‘local champion’, and called on the youth of the state to rise up in ‘positive rebellion’ against the elders.

Essien Udim Council on Political Affairs said they were worried about “the rising political tension which could escalate to a point of tainting or even disrupting the political process, peace and governance in the State, if not contained immediately”.

It advised Akpabio to refrain from making utterances that will deepen political and ethnic tension, and begin a process of reconciliation among the ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom as well as the different factions of PDP in the state.

“Council calls on Chief Godswill Akpabio to take up the role of a leader and father to all, and desist from endorsing, funding and campaigning for any of the PDP governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State,” the group said.

(See below scanned copy of the press statement by the Essien Udim Council on Political Affairs)