Akpabio’s arrest: A’Ibom agog with celebration, Gov Udom Emmanuel holds emergency meeting

By Nse Peter

Residents of Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, are said to have taken to the streets to celebrate the news of the arrest of Godswill Akpabio by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission.

Akpabio, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Senate minority leader, was reportedly arrested on Friday by the EFCC for the alleged theft of N108.1 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom State.

Think Akwa Ibom! correspondent in Uyo says hundreds of residents in the capital city are pouring into a popular recreation spot, Ibom Plaza, which is in the heart of the city. They are singing and jubilating over the arrest of Akpabio.

 “Anybody who refuses to rejoice over this news is a lover of corruption and an enemy of progress in this state and in Nigeria,” said a middle-aged man who claimed he works as a civil servant in the state. “Godswill Akpabio has destroyed this state. He has stolen so much money, which is why there is so much hunger and poverty here. We want President Buhari to prove to us that he is serious about fighting corruption in this country.”

Several motorists along major roads like Oron Road, Ikot Ekpene Road, Aka Road and Nwaniba Road in Uyo were seen flashing their car headlamps and hooting their horns to show solidarity with EFCC over the arrest of the former Akwa Ibom governor.

Meanwhile, Governor Udom Emmanuel is currently holding emergency meeting with some senior Akwa Ibom politicians at his private residence in Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, to discuss the development, one of his media aides told Think Akwa Ibom!