“From 12 midnight many Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors and chieftains had sent me birthday messages, though I am a member of All Progressives Congress, APC. I have gone through all the national and local newspapers, yet Akwa Ibom government has not wished me birthday as a one-time governor of Akwa Ibom,” Senator Godswill Akpabio bemoaned.
“This is pettiness taken too far. This action shows lack of character on the part of the government,” Akpabio who clocked 56 on Sunday, December 9, stated.
Many well-wishers, friends and corporate bodies including Straightnews have used the social media and mass media to congratulate Senator Akpabio representing Akwa Ibom North West in the Senate and a two-term governor of Akwa Ibom State on his birthday.
Speaking on Sunday at the presentation of Sir Etekamba Umoren as the new Lay President of Methodist Church Nigeria, Essien Udim Diocese, Akpabio said as a governor for eight years, he never failed to congratulate ex-Governor Victor Attah on his birthday anniversaries.
“At 80, I congratulated Attah on a personal capacity eventhough I was no longer the state governor because it was befitting to do so as our past leader,” he recalled.
The Senator used the occasion to attack Udom Emmanuel administration as non-performing in all areas.
According to him, ‘’Everything the governor purportedly drummed to have performed is 419. The Metering Company and the Peacock Industry are all 419. Even the Fertiliser Comapnay in Abak is non-existent. I procured the place for the state government, yet he would tell the people that he is producing fertilizer. The government does not build industries. All projects are 419.
“I went to Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo and discovered that the second runway purportedly built by Udom Emmanuel administration is 419. Nothing is added to the airport apart from what I did as a governor. We are in a trajectory of transformation. There is abysmal performance by the state government. “
In an interview with journalists in his country home- Ukana Ikot Ideh, 58-year-old Umoren thanked God Almighty for finding him fit to occupy the office.
He thanked the leadership of Methodist Church Nigeria for the privilege given him to serve in the vineyard of the Lord and pledged to perform his duties well to the glory of God.
