By Our reporters
Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has deflated his social media critics over accusation that he refused to sponsor the overseas treatment of Ufot Ebong who died last week, Straightnews has gathered.
The Obot Akara prominent son died on Friday, October 4 at an undisclosed hospital in Uyo.
Da Zion Umoh, Akpabio’s kinsman and social media writer, dragged Akpabio on Ebong’s death to the social media space, an action that attracted condemnations and commendations as well from the public.
When Ufot Ebong, a childhood friend of Akpabio, died intestate last, Da Zion Umoh criticised Akpabio for ‘‘refusing release money for the treatment of Ebong overseas.’’
Recall that Ebong, a Geologist who had worked in Shell Petroleum Development Company resigned his appointment and joined politics as a political appointee, courtesy of his friend-governor, Akpabio.
When Akpabio defected to All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebong decided to pitch tent with Mr. Udom Emmanuel, then Akwa Ibom Governor in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Emmanuel, therefore, rewarded Ebong with the position of a Senior Special Assistant on Technical Matters and Due Process as well as Dean, College of Personal Aides (COPA) and Coordinator of the Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES) for more than seven years.
Despite the political diversity, Ebong and Akpabio remained friends forgetting not the old days they temporarily settled at the Victory Villa, Ukana in Essien Udim, the famous residence of the late Dr. Ibanga Udo Akpabio, who was the Minister of Education/Internal Affairs in the defunct Eastern Region.
However, Da Zion Umoh stoked the fire that Akpabio had ‘‘abandoned’’ his friend- Ebong- on his sick bed in the hospital before his demise.
Unlike most accusations Akpabio would be taciturn; he decided to let the cat out of the bag by releasing private chats with Ebong and release of $35,000 for Ebong’s overseas treatment.
The money is equivalent to N56 million.
Etim Etim’s confirmation
Etim Etim, an APC Chieftain in Akwa Ibom, wrote ‘‘I have seen the screenshot of the text messages that went between Senator Godswill Akpabio and the late Ufot Ebong in which Ebong, in his sick bed at Ibom Specialty Hospital, Uyo, acknowledged receipt of $35,000 from the senate president.
‘‘The money was meant to assist him seek medical care overseas, but, unfortunately, Ebong passed away before he could be flown abroad. Ebong had served in the Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel administrations. My condolences to the Ebong family and my commendation to the Senate President for his usual kindness.’’
Etim who is a revered banker and journalists observed ‘‘You may not like Akpabio for whatever reasons, but his generosity to his friends and kin is legendary. Ebong was his childhood friend. Around 1984, Ebong lived next door to my elder brother in Calabar, somewhere close to the airport, and that’s when I knew Ebong. During holidays (I was a student at UNN then), part of which I spent with my brother, I would go over to Ebong’s apartment where we spent hours playing scrabble.
‘‘Akpabio, then a law student at UNICAL and an avid scrabble player, was always there. Ebong was jovial, witty and easy going. I reminded Ebong of those jolly days when I last spoke with him early this year and we laughed over it. I am saddened by his death.
‘‘I am also disturbed by the needless controversy surrounding Senator Akpabio’s $35,000 gift to Ebong. While some people claim that the money came too late, others blame Akpabio for releasing the screenshot of their chats in which Ebong thanked Akpabio for his help, for the purpose of self-promotion. This controversy is not necessary.
‘‘Akpabio is a giver and he also loves to be appreciated for it. It is his nature. I know of a few other instances in which the Senate President has extended help to our brothers and sisters in their dire times of need. It is in his character and for that, I commend him.’’
Da Zion Umoh’s ‘’disappointment’’
On his Facebook page, Umoh expressed disappointment that Akpabio published the private chats he had with his departed friend.
Umoh stated ‘‘Dear Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, I am once again very disappointed in you for forwarding your Private chats with Late Ufot Ebong to your Local Legislative Aides just to ridicule Ufot and prove a point to the public that you sent him 35 thousand US Dollars without mentioning to them that the money was sent when your Doctor in Germany informed you that Ufot was on the last stage and was not going to survive and was not accepted by any Airline to fly.
‘‘Dear Godswill Obot Akpabio, I should have been the person to publish that you gave Late Ufot Ebong 35k USD after my long conversation with you but I carefully refused to inform the public because the money wat sent to Ufot Ebong when he was already dead on the inside while awaiting to be pronounced dead officially,’’ the Director Of Special Duties For Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio 2023 Campaign noted.
According to him, ‘‘With this unexpected unnecessary behaviour of you forwarding the private chats between you and your supposed friend and brother Ufot Ebong, I have come to the conclusion that you are your only problem and not Mrs Ekaette-Unoma Akpabio whom we thought was your major problem.
‘‘What point was Godswill Akpabio trying to prove by forwarding his private chats when he is fully aware that it was the Son of Ufot that was handling the phones of Ufot?,’’ he added.
However, a close relation to Akpabio in a private interview with Straightnews on Saturday was amused at the attitude of Umoh, dabbling endlessly into the private life of Senator Akpabio.
‘‘He who brings mat to the public domain wants others to assist him in weaving it. Umoh accused Akpabio of refusing money to Ebong publicly. In the first place, it was not Ebong’s money Akpabio was holding in trust? Akpabio reserved the right to give or not to give.
‘‘Why then accused him of refusing to release money to a friend, which was merely on compassionate grounds, not on merit? Could Akpabio not have channeled the money to treat his constituents or friends, instead of spending on one person?’’ he queried.
