It has been revealed that the high spate of insidious paid media attacks against Governor Udom Emmanuel and his predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio is politically motivated to by detractors to cause unnecessary tension in the polity.
The aim of the publications, it was also reveal, is to cause a rift between the Akwa Ibom State Governor and the Senate Minority Leader, and polarize the support base of the state ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
Eket Senatorial District Leaders, who made this known in a release said, “unlike other states where the successors and predecessors are at daggers- drawn and the political space in those states heated, our son, Governor Udom Emmanuel has maintain a smooth relationship with his predecessor, the minority leader of the senate of the federal republic of Nigeria, Senator Godswill Akpabio.”
The release signed by Chief Nduese Essien, Chairman, Sir Obot Etukafia and Dr Esio Oquong Udoh joint deputy chairmen, Barr Akpadia Ebitu the Secretary, as well as Dr Akon Eyakenyi the woman leader, said the closeness has attracted the envy of the political elements of the other side of the divide and their prayer is to see the two great leaders openly engage each other in open political fight.”
However the leaders of the Governor’s host senatorial district said such evil wishful plot will not materialize as the governor will continue to relate well with all his predecessors.
They Eket leaders also condemned the attempt by the media ‘propagandists’ to distort facts and create discord over the application of the state funds by Governor Emmanuel, who they described as a financial expert judiciously utilizing the funds.
They also revealed that despite the economic downturn occasioned by poor revenue from oil and the crash of the naira in the exchange market, Governor Emmanuel has made a difference as an experienced, tested and prudent financial manager.
“We therefore, pay glowing tribute to our amiable son, Governor Udom Emmanuel for his ability to adroitly steer the finances of the state without any major upheaval to the basic responsibilities of the state.”
On the recent controversies surrounding some government –owned utility projects, the leaders said “not all government projects are social services that must be funded by Government in perpetuity” to remain afloat.
They threw their weight behind the decision of Governor Emmanuel to reposition Le-Meriden Ibom Hotel and Golf Course and the Ibom Specialist Hospital for self-sustained growth.
They regretted that managers of the two institutions failed to run them as private enterprises for profits, and assured that other projects inherited from the previous administration such as the Ibom Airport, Tropicana Entertainment Centre, Sheraton Four Points, Uyo- Ikot Ekpene Road among others, are on-going projects hampered by the dwindling revenue in the state.
