2019: Akpabio’s utterances against PDP, sign of worsening medical condition – Umoren

A public affairs analyst, Mr Udeme Umoren has described comments  attributed to the former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio against the non performance of the PDP in Akwa Ibom state as an early warning sign of the former Governor’s worsening medical condition.

Umoren who was reacting to Akpabio’s allegations while speaking on Monday in Nsit Atai LGA that Akwa Ibom state has not benefitted from a single kilometer of road in the 20 years the party ruled Nigeria, said such statements from Akpabio only portrays the Senator as an embarrassing contradiction of himself.

The former Governor while speaking during a reception held in Nsit Atai to receive some defectors from PDP to the APC accused the PDP of not constructing a single kilometer of road in the state nor appointing indigenes of the state into federal positions of authority.

According to Mr Umoren, Akpabio’s allegations are rather too shameful and unbecoming of a man who was once held in high esteem by many even outside the state but just for being blackmailed by the APC to defect has become a political toddler who now talks carelessly to the embarrassment of many who had looked up to him as a role model.

He reminded Akpabio that not only were Akwa Ibom sons and daughters appointed into positions of power by the PDP government but he (Akpabio) due to his low self esteem and high level of insecurity, fought against many federal appointments coming to indigenes of the state whom he felt will have the courage to stand up to him in the interest of the state.

“I think this is when Akpabio’s doctors should be closer to him for proper diagnosis and possible rehabilitation. He needs to be admitted into a rehab center in his own interest”.

“This is the same Akpabio who fought many Akwa Ibom sons and daughters who were given federal appointments. When Udoedeghe was appointed Minister of State for FCT, it is on record Akpabio fought towards getting him removed. When Prof Ewa was appointed Minister by President Goodluck Jonathan, he again was against it and fought tooth and nail and got the man removed. It is also on record that Akpabio lobbied the Senate to block some Akwa Ibom nominees from being confirmed. When Buhari appointed Ita Enang as presidential aide, Akpabio who is today a nationalist and a new saint in APC fought against Enang’s appointment”.

He reminded the former Governor how many nominations for appointment to indigenes of the state were blocked and undermined by Akpabio because he felt insecure and did all in his power to ensure no other Akwa Ibom person had any federal prominence, saying it was disgraceful for him to cast aspersion against the PDP when his preoccupation as then Governor and Chairman, PDP Governors Forum was to undermine the chances of the state getting federal appointments while he ensured that the few that came went only to his “small boys” who will not challenge him in future.

“The appointments slots that came to Akwa Ibom were hijacked and given to his brothers”. Akwa Ibom people have not forgotten that Moses Ekpo was federal commissioner, National Population Commission, NPC, Matttew Ukpong was appointed Federal Character Commission, FCC, from Ukana, Essien Udim, Elder Simon Etim from Ikpe, Essien Udim was appointed into the Federal Civil Service, Aniedi Akpabio was in FHC, from Ukana, Essien Udim, Nkereuwem Akpabio, from Ukana, Essien Udim was SA in NDDC, Senator Emmanuel Ibom Essien from Ikot Ekpene was appointed into RMAFC, Dr Chris Ekpeyong got NITDA while Don Etiebet was chairman Governing Council of University of Jos. These were all skewed PDP appointments to Akwa Ibom sons when Akpabio was Governor”, he said.

“I think any one who loves Akpabio should advice him to speak less if he wants to maintain any dignity and respect left of him. When a man of his standing boast of how Buhari has dualized the Calabar-Odukpani-Itu Ikot Ekpene Road, it becomes shameful and embarrassing when of a truth, nothing has happened on that road, nothing”

“Akpabio seems to be suffering from memory loses when he speaks in one breath of how President Buhari has approved refunds of N75bn of the N145bn that he used in constructing federal roads in the State and in another breath say no road was constructed in the state under the PDP for the past 20 years”.

Mr Umoren called on the Senator to rather than embarrass and contradict himself the more, tell Akwa Ibom people where he kept the 31 industries he promised Akwa Ibom people and the billions of naira that were appropriated for the industries and the role he and his former deputy Governor, Obong Nsima Ekere played in the embezzlement of the money meant for the 31 industries.

Hear him, “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. It is not enough for Akpabio to shamelessly boast of how Buhari has promised Akwa Ibom people 23 kilometer from Aba to Ikot Ekpene, or how the President has promised to build a bridge from Oron to Calabar, or to introduce railway line to our state. We have heard all those lies before and can not be deceived twice”.

“Let him tell us where the money for the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road is, where the money for Tropicana was stolen to, why he wanted to impeach his former deputy Governor from office, where he kept the money for the Akwa Ibom International Stadium. Akpabio should hide his face in shame if at all he has any left because Akwa Ibom people know him and are determined to stop him from turning the state to his private property”, he said.