We have read so many stories bothering on Chief Godswill Akpabio and H.E Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, recently. Most of these stories spin various conspiracy theories attempting to show the farsightedness, indispensability or crass mundanity of the former Governor and Senator. We must confess that all the stories will make an interesting read,at least to the pedestrian person whose interest in the political affairs of Akwa Ibom is shallow .
This reply seeks to address the media handlers of the former Governor, calling on them to exercise caution and restrain in the conduct of their duties. It has become their modus operandi, to stir up crises for their principal and later sit around to cry, when the reaction occurs. They must remember that every action will attract equal and opposite reaction
In this particular case, the stories about the Senator Akpabio and Atiku first emanated from the Senator’s media aides or better put media hirelings who in their hero worship, feel that their boss, the Senator is a god and therefore omnipotent, omniscient and absolutely infallible. They published the picture of Alh. Atiku Abubakar at the residence of the former senate Minority Leader and commended the Senator’s foresight. Before long, all those sympathetic to the downward spiral that our former boss has accidentally engaged, populated the internet space with the photograph and jaundiced analogy which now fueled speculations of the return of the former Governor to PDP. With this trend of events, how can the media office of Senator Akpabio now blame the Government of Akwa Ibom State and the PDP? This blame game, which before now was alien to the senator and his media strategists, has become commonplace with them- signs of their full adaptation to APC’s strategy.
Additionally, why should people not believe that the former Governor can do a summersault and sport another person other than the presidential candidate of his party? Was he not the person who said that despite his support for President Goodluck Jonathan that his heart was with General Buhari? When people recall how Senator Akpabio, as Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum worked hard for the second term bid of President Jonathan and thoroughly opposed the ambition of PMB (those in doubt should replay videos and audios of campaign speeches made by Senator Akpabio during the period in question). So if rational people juxtapose his conduct then and now, and conclude that he is capable of anything, how is PDP to blame?
And to the issue of being the oxygen or life-wire (or whatever the Media handlers of the ex- Governor choose as superlatives) of the PDP, we will like to remind them that Chief Godswill Akpabio is not a foundation member of the People’s Democratic Party and the party had been winning elections before he was given the privilege of being the Governorship Candidate of the party in 2007. We do not blame the Senator’s media handlers for deifying him, it earns them a pay and a livelihood and we must show understanding. But they should find time to ask their god, the circumstances of his gubernatorial nomination in 2007, we won’t go further. The fact remains that PDP had been winning elections Pre-Akpabio and will win Post-Akpabio, period.
Finally, the style of Senator Akpabio’s media aides always blaming a certain Media Aide of the Governor who previously praised the ex-governor but now condemns him, stands logic on its head. Praises and condemnation are tied to acts and not persons, so if a person does a good thing you praise him and if he does bad, you condemn the act. I know many of those who now praise the former Senate Minority leader, who were once his fiercest critics. Some were his blackmailers-in-chief before they landed an appointment in government.
As a political party that gave Chief Akpabio the platform to stand and be seen, we did not in any way attempt to infringe on his right to freedom of Association, when he chose to defect to the APC, but we have noticed that his speeches post defection hardly ends without a disrespectful mention of our party. He relishes in abusing the party that gave him the ticket to the seat and office of the Governor, yet seriously frowns at his former aides speaking against his actions, isn’t that UNCOMMON HYPOCRISY? We demand henceforth that Senator Akpabio should focus on his new party and work for them, rather than attempt to distract us. We have shown and will continue to show him respect, but that should not be taken for granted. He and his party should concentrate on producing candidates for the general elections, which is a challenge that faces them at the moment. Rather than rant online, we were expecting to see their list of candidates for all the offices. This comedy is no longer hilarious and is in fact becoming boring.
