Abandon Any Plans To Seize Control of Akwa Ibom PDP Warns Akpabio
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has been instructed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to abandon any plans he may have to seize control of Akwa Ibom State in 2027.
In a statement, the Party’s spokesperson, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, advised the Senate President to accept that the people of Akwa Ibom State are deeply ingrained in the PDP as a peaceful, unified people who have been blessed by God, particularly during the recent and current administrations.
The PDP claims that since the plan to exploit false allegations and provocative remarks to destabilize the State has already failed, the Senate President would not be able to use his position of power to win reelection in the future.
“They cannot be swayed by any agent of disunity, incitement, hatred and retrogression whose intention is to use propaganda and hate speeches to derail and appropriate the State for selfish interest.
“The boast by Senator Akpabio to take over Akwa Ibom State in 2027 is not only pathetically empty but further exposes his level of arrogance and disdain for the sensibility, intelligence, democratic right and sovereignty of the people of Akwa Ibom State.
“Our Party advises Senator Akpabio to leave Akwa Ibom State alone and focus on the challenges of his office as Senate President which is alleged to be engaged in process manipulation and sharp practices including alleged budget padding and diversion of public funds.
“Senator Akpabio should address the allegations in the public domain that a prominent official of the National Assembly in connivance with another top official in the Presidency have been using ministers and other government functionaries to siphon billions of Naira including funds meant for palliatives for poor Nigerians under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“Nigerians can recall that there are pending investigations before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegation of looting of N108.1 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom State under Senator Akpabio’s watch as Governor as well as alleged N86 billion contract scam in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
“These are funds belonging to and meant for the welfare of the people of Akwa Ibom State and the Niger Delta Region and our Party challenges the Senate President to immediately come clean and clear the air on these allegations, especially given the sanctity of the office which he now occupies.
“Senator Akpabio should note that the office of the Senate President does not confer any form of immunity on him from investigation and/or prosecution. In any event, he must know that time does not run against the State in criminal matters.
The PDP calls on the people of Akwa Ibom State to ignore Senator Akpabio’s tricks and stick together in their resolve to carry on constructing their state under the party’s banner.
“Senator Akpabio should as a matter of public duty concentrate on attending to the plethora of allegations of corruption around him to justify the respect and integrity expected of the occupier of the office of the Senate President,” the party’s statement partly read.
