The politics of ‘no permanent friend, no permanent enemy but permanent interest’ played out as Senators Godswill Akpabio and John James Akpanudoedehe, Thursday, renewed their political tie after months of power struggle and bickering.
Akpabio attended a meeting summoned by Group Captain Sam Ewang (rtd) and was declared party leader in the state, but Akpanudoedehe attended another convened by Akwa Ibom acting Chairman of All Progressives Congress Caretaker Committee, Dr. Ita Udosen, rejecting Akpabio and affirming Udosen as their leader.
Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, is the highest political office holder in Akwa Ibom while Akpanudoedehe is the national Secretary of the Caretaker Committee at the All Progressives Congress.
Addressing the Media before a closed door meeting with the National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Akpanudoedehe at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, Akpabio commended Governor Mai Mala Buni led APC Caretaker Committee for ensuring positive transformation in line with the mandate given to them, which is yielding the desired results.
The Minister, however, denied any hostile relationship between himself and Akpanudoedehe, saying there has never been anytime the duo had issues together.
According to him, “We have never quarrelled with one another. In fact, we have always cooperated with one another, if anything, he will use his mouth to tell you how we used to dance Kokoma, holding hands together, then we go down and come up again.
”All these things happened in the 2019 elections, when we tried to install the APC government in Akwa Ibom State, until there was a conflict from both within and without, and that effort was shattered. And I don’t want that to happen again.
On the security situation in the country, the Minister appealed to Nigerians to stop the blame game and join hands to tackle the security challenges in the country.
He said the current security challenges in the country are politically motivated, and require collective efforts to unravel their sponsors in order to fast track the efforts and desire to build a united Nigeria.
He said, “The issue of insecurity, for me, has already assumed a very worrisome dimension. If you notice, it is not limited to one region.
”It is not a function of North East, it is not a function of South East, even in the South-South, even in my own local government area, and if you read everyday what is happening in Benue State and other States, we have never in the history of this nation witnessed where people in uniform are targeted for elimination. That will show you that we have infiltrators in our midst.”
Akpabio noted that the security of neighboring countries must also remain a priority, adding that all the heavy arms in Nigeria today came into the country after Muammar Gaddafi was taken out, and people looted the arms.
The Niger Delta Affairs Minister added that in Chad and Niger Republic, people buy arms like they buy petrol by the road side in Nigeria. The Minister noted that Niger Delta region is the most peaceful region today in the country due to the amnesty programme of the government.
He stated: “So, I think most of it is from outside influence. Most of the actions you see today are politically motivated, to try to derail the government but the government will not be deterred. And there is nothing that lasts forever; you know that everything that goes up must come down. So, the insecurity you are seeing today, you will not see it again.”
On his part, Akpanudoedehe saw Akpabio’s visit as a surprise one, and denied having issues with the Minister, adding that politicians are people who can easily resolve their problems without fighting.
According to him, “I want to remind you what I said two months ago. My father told me that if you go to heaven, you don’t see politicians in heaven, and you don’t see politicians in heaven, you have to leave because that one is hell. I asked him why, he said politicians are people who can easily resolve their problems without fighting.
“That is why when you people put your mouth or your pen in issue of politics we always laugh because you will not know when we will laugh and resolve these issues. But that is not to say that we have issues.
“This visit is a surprise visit, it is like a girlfriend who has been expecting her boyfriend and keeps saying when will my boyfriend visit me for proposal? And I have been ambushed for this proposal. What will the girlfriend do: excitement! That you have been waiting for this diamond.
“So, I’m happy that this proposal has come finally, because it is what I have been waiting for. Let me tell you something, it is like America, Britain or world powers. If a small country wants to survive, you have to rush to America to support you. So, most of the problems are not personal.
”It is between small country and big country. So it may set confusion between two bigger countries, but if the two bigger countries understand how to deal with the issues, the issue becomes non issue and they have become non issue today,” he said.
