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| Former governor of Akwa Ibom, Chief Godswill Akpabio |
By Etim Ekpimah
The Convener, Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, Akwa Ibom
State chapter, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, has slammed the Governor of Akwa Ibom
State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for renaming the Ibom International Stadium after the
immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Godswill Akpabio.
Effiong, in a statement on Sunday, said Akwa Ibom indigenes
would experience the reign of impunity and dictatorship in the new government.
Emmanuel, while delivering his inaugural speech,
rechristened the Ibom International Stadium as Godswill Akpabio International
Stadium.
He stated that the decision to rename the stadium, otherwise
known as the Nest of Champions, was in compliance with the resolution of the
outgoing state House of Assembly in recognition of Akpabio’s legacies in the
state.
He said, “On May 28, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly
reminded me of the need to give assent to the bill they had passed for the
renaming of the Ibom International Stadium as Godswill Akpabio International
Stadium. I stand here to give that assent.”
Effiong stated that it was unfortunate that the first
decision Emmanuel made after he was inaugurated as the governor was the
renaming of the state’s stadium after Akpabio.
He alleged that the decision to rechristen the state’s stadium
after Akpabio underscored the allegiance of Emmanuel to protect Akpabio’s
interest and not that of the state.
He added that for the few months that Emmanuel would be
directing the affairs of the state before the pronouncement of the courts on
the legality of his election, the people would notice that Emmanuel was foisted
on the people of Akwa Ibom to play out Akpabio’s scripts.
The statement read, “The renaming of Ibom International
Stadium by Emmanuel after Akpabio is distasteful. If the first decision taken
by Emmanuel is intended to massage Akpabio’s ego, then we do not need a prophet
to tell us what lies ahead for the few months that Emmanuel will be directing
the affairs of the state before the pronouncement of the courts on the legality
of his emergence.
“When we insisted that the political marriage between the
duo was purely driven by egregious and greedy considerations, some folks called
us unprintable names. Now, the chips are down and the mask has fallen off the
face of Udom Emmanuel.
“We really feel sorry for Akwa Ibom State because we are
getting into a worse reign of impunity and dictatorship. The Akwa Ibom of our
dreams is certainly not the one being contrived by former Governor Godswill
Akpabio and his protégé. We urge our people to remain vigilant as more
destructive steps will be taken in the days.”
Culled from The Punch
newspaper
Who ever is the editor of this article is doing that for selfish interest. The dark days can only locate those who go for it. The Akwa Ibom that God has used Akpabio to take it this far, God will NEVER allow your selfish interest to override the general interest of our dear Akwa Abasi-Ibom State. The days of your deceptions are gone!
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