“Does it mean that when a former leader is in another party, he ceases to attend the celebration of his state’s anniversary?’’ one of the media aides to Governor Udom Emmanuel tweeted in his handle.
Recall that on September 23, Sunday worship service to commemorate the 31st creation anniversary of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria’s 21st state was held at Uyo Township Stadium.
Ndueso Essien, Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel on Media in his tweet on Sunday, September 23 at 11.45 a.m., made the apparent reference to the absence of Senator Godswill Akpabio, the immediate past governor of the state at the stadium, venue of the state event.
In a telephone interview on Monday, Straightnews reporter wanted to know from Anietie Ekong, Special Assistant to Senator Akpabio on Media if the state government had officially invited his boss to ceremony.
Ekong responded “My boss was not invited to the Akwa Ibom at 31 creation anniversary celebrations. “There is no way my boss would have gatecrashed at the event since he was not officially invited as a former governor of the state. That was politics taken too far. If anyone refutes the story, let him produce the invitation card,’’ Ekong added.
To deepen the story, Straightnews reporter in Uyo called Ekerete Udoh, the Senior Special Assistant on Media/Chief Press Secretary to Governor Emmanuel for confirmation. Udoh who picked the call on hearing the tone of the question dropped the call. Again, he busied the call and did not respond to the question.
Among personalities who attended the Sunday Service were: Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate President; Senator Tunde Ogbeha, the pioneer military administrator of the state; Air Vice-Marshal Nsikak Eduok, rtd; Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, rtd and Col. Yakubu Bako, rtd, among others.
At the same time, same day, Senator Akpabio and wife; Nsima Ekere, Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and wife were worshipping at New Birth Church, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital.
In his Twitter handle, Nsima Ekere (@NsimaUEkere) tweeted “Service today at New Birth Church, Osongama Estate, Uyo to commemorate the 31st Anniversary of Akwa Ibom State with my dear wife Eseabasi, HE @SenatorAkpabio, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, APC leaders and other faithfuls. God bless Akwa Abasi Ibom State!’’
Earlier in the day, Mr Emmanuel had in a state-wide radio and television broadcast on Sunday to mark the anniversary appealed to the people of the state to embrace his administration and reject the opposition.
The governor, in his address, constantly made veiled reference to the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West, Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of the state and his estranged godfather, as the face of the opposition in the state.
However, the frosty relationship between Mr. Akpabio and Mr Emmanuel may not be unconnected with the defection of the former from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP ruling in the state to the All Progressives Congress, APC ruling at the national level.
Akwa Ibom has been a Peoples Democratic Party-controlled state since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.
In constant reference to the past administration of Mr Akpabio in the state, Governor Emmanuel said in his broadcast: “My fellow Akwa Ibomites, you have a choice of continuing on the path of steady growth of our state and our people, of a state that is fast industrialising and where our youths are gainfully engaged and have a reason to dream and dare or a return to the years when the promise of industries in each of the 31 local government areas were made with fanfare and not even a cottage industry was established; where monuments were built with great fanfare instead of projects that have enduring benefits to our people.”
The governor added, “Remember, building monuments is not the same thing as building lasting and economically viable projects.”
Seven years after, Mr Emmanuel brought back the Akpabio’s failed promise as a campaign issue, against the APC.
Mr. Emmanuel also made reference to the insecurity that plagued the state during the Akpabio administration.
“Fellow Akwa Ibomites, we are confronted with two stark and distinct choices: the choice of living in a state that is peaceful, devoid of kidnappings, politically motivated assassinations and where the security of lives and property is assured or a return to the fearful years when death and insecurity walked on two legs; where people were afraid to visit or pursue their legitimate businesses for fear of being kidnapped or outrightly murdered. It is a chapter in our state’s history we wished had not been written!” the governor said.
“When they lie to you my dear Akwa Ibomites about what we have achieved, you should ask them to show you what they have used the massive budget to do for Akwa Ibom people.
“Governance is not about lies and propaganda, governance is about character, integrity, transparency and doing the job of the people. Governance is not about giving people fraudulent contract papers for road construction.
“Akwa Ibom people deserve better, they deserve to be told the truth. The era of taking our people for granted, playing on their perceived gullibility is over. Our people deserve a fair deal from those who wish to lead them and not a raw deal. That is the choice you have my fellow Akwa Ibomites.”
The governor said as the 2019 general elections approach, the state is at the risk of being returned to the “dark chapters we had worked hard and collectively shredded and rejected.”
“It is that great story of a people who had been emancipated from internal slavery and cruel domination, from the naked and broad daylight stealing of our commonwealth and common blessings that today is at risk of repeating itself.
“If we miss this moment, if we allow the raw desire of an individual to supersede the collective interest of our people, we will forever remain bound by the shackles of domination and slavery. May God never allow affliction to happen a second time!” he said.
He said the battle for 2019 wasn’t about “Udom Emmanuel”, but about the future and about making a choice whether to “embrace progress” or to “embrace darkness.”
