All Progressives Congress Media Network and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are sparring over suspicion that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was behind the petition and viral dissemination of fraud and money laundering reports concerning his successor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, a former Akwa Ibom governor.
The PDP, which is Emmanuel’s party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba fingered Akpabio as being behind Emmanuel’s ordeal and the viral dissemination of the report, which he said was aimed at smearing his reputation.
Recall that Emmanuel was on Tuesday grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following the money laundering, diversion of funds and stealing charges preferred against him by the Network against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT).
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However, the Director General of APC Media Network, Otuekong Iniobong John fried against the allegation in a statement on Saturday, saying Akpabio was too busy with legislative issues and wouldn’t condescend to disseminating the news of the arrest/invitation of former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
John observed that the primary mandate of the EFCC is to investigate and prosecute economic and financial crimes in the country, therefore, the reports regarding Emmanuel’s invitation by the EFCC should not be attributed to a smear campaign orchestrated by Akpabio or any other individual for that matter.
He challenged the PDP “to deny the fact that Mr. Emmanuel was actually invited/arrested by the EFCC before accusing others of being behind the spreading of the news”.
“Is Senator Akpabio the mastermind behind the arrest of former Governors Yahaya Bello and Ifeanyi Okowa, among others who have been investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC? This highlights the naivety, cluelessness and pettiness of the factional National Publicity Secretary of the PDP,” he also queried.
The DG also warned against every form of ethnic colorations to Ex-governor Emmanuel’s ordeal as being propagated in Akwa Ibom noting that a PDP chieftain in the State, Cheif Ndueso Essien had earlier cleared the air by exonerating Akpabio of any complicity.
“We categorically assert that Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, has no business disseminating the news of the arrest/invitation of the former Governor Udom Emmanuel. As the Senate President, he is focused on overseeing the operations of the National Assembly and has no interest in engaging with trivial matters.
“It’s unfortunate that the factional National Publicity Secretary of the PDP could condescend to making baseless and malicious statements. But We know that the press release by the factional National Publicity Secretary of the PDP was conceived and sponsored by the PDP government in Akwa Ibom State.
“Some tribal bigots in the state have been propagating false propaganda that Senator Akpabio was behind the petition against ex-governor Udom Emmanuel. However, a PDP elder, Rt. Hon. Chief Ndueso Essien, has stated that Senator Akpabio was not involved in the petition.
“The APC Media Network condemns the PDP’s shameless attempt to manipulate public opinion and tarnish Senator Akpabio’s reputation. We urge the public to see through this cheap propaganda and hold the PDP accountable for their actions,” he said.
PDP accuses Akpabio
The Peoples Democratic Party Friday called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to stop targeting former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, and instead focus on the challenges facing him in the Senate.
The opposition party also alleged a plot by Akpabio to sponsor a smear campaign against the former governor in a bid to discredit the PDP.
In a statement issued in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, accused the Senate President of orchestrating a media propaganda campaign filled with falsehoods and misrepresentations.
“Our party is aware of a well-oiled scheme reportedly engineered by the Senate President to compromise a section of the media to spread false allegations against Udom Emmanuel,” Ologunagba said.
“The latest attempt is to falsely portray Udom Emmanuel as being indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while bandying spurious and fictitious figures to mislead the public.”
The PDP defended Udom Emmanuel’s record, describing him as a transparent and service-driven leader who left behind a legacy of development and prudent resource management.
“It is on record that Udom Emmanuel served meritoriously as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, leaving behind an impeccable record in infrastructure, education, healthcare, aviation, power, housing, and economic development,” the statement read.
The party advised Akpabio to desist from attempts to tarnish Udom Emmanuel’s image and focus instead on addressing critical issues in the National Assembly.
“Senator Akpabio should leave Udom Emmanuel alone and focus on the many challenges facing him in the Senate.”
The PDP reaffirmed its commitment to good governance and vowed to resist any attempt to use political intimidation and misinformation against its members.
