A socio political group Niger-Delta Youth Alliance for Good Governance (NDYAG) has lauded the new found synergy and working relationship between the Senate President Chief Godswill Akpabio and the governor of Akwa ibom state Pastor Umo Eno describing it as laudable and best for the development of the state.
In the same vein, the group has made a passionate appeal to Senator Godswill Akpabio to move on and spare the immediate past governor Mr Udom Emmanuel of further verbal attacks adding that Mr Emmanuel did his best to protect Akpabio’s interest throughout his tenure as governor.
Addressing journalists on Monday in Uyo, Akwa ibom state, the State Coordinator of the Niger Delta Youth Alliance for Good Governance, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Comrade Iniobong Ekpenyong and Comrade Silas Etuk State Secretary said the group is very appreciative of Umo Eno
for taking the bold step to identify with and congratulate Senator Godswill Akpabio to forge a coexisting and beneficial relationship to move the state forward.
According to the group,.”The Niger Delta Youth Alliance for Good Governance believes that Akpabio’s emergence is a result of his hard work, sterling quality and performance as a PDP Governor in Akwa Ibom state which earned him the appellation of the “Uncommon Governor” from 2007 to 2015 during his reign as Governor”.
However, they highlighted, “The Niger Delta Youth Alliance for Good Governance frowns at some remarks made by Senator Akpabio concerning the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, particularly those made at his residence in Abuja when Governor Umo Eno and his entourage visited him and those issued during a Thanksgiving Service/reception held by Mr. Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt, Rivers State”.
“We wish to advise the distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio to live up to the expectations of the Akwa Ibom people by liaising with the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno who has indicated interest to work with the Federal Government for the development of the State. Akpabio should rather make such an effort, his preoccupation, than his unwarranted attack on Mr. Udom Emmanuel in a bid to cause cold blood and a rift between Pastor Umo Eno and Mr. Udom Emmanuel”.
The Coordinator further emphasized, “Mr. Udom Emmanuel has never been an enemy of Senator Godswill Akpabio and will never be one. Instead, Mr. Udom has demonstrated a leap of beneficence in protecting Akpabio’s image and his record of service. It is on record that before and after the exit of Senator Akpabio from the PDP, Mr. Emmanuel cautioned his aides not to comment or write anything negative about Senator Akpabio, and anytime the opposition wrote negative stories about the Senate President, Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s media aides rose to Akpabio’s defense. Fortunately, former Governor Udom Emmanuel has never insulted, abused, or denigrate Senator Akpabio in public or anywhere before. That is the level of regard Mr. Udom has for Akpabio”.
They added that available records in the public domain shows that Mr. Udom has protected Akpabio more than any Governor in Nigeria has protected their predecessors in office, including Akpabio legacies.
“Mr. Udom completed the majority of the projects started by Senator Akpabio. The Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road dualization project, the Ibom Airport, Four Point By Sheraton, and Ibom Tropicana are among numerous projects abandoned by Senator Akpabio which were completed by Mr. Udom. Mr. Udom also inherited and maintained the appointment of over 90 percent of Akpabio’s Aides and political associates”.
The group further recalled that Mr. Udom Emmanuel went further to do the unthinkable by resisting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from investigating the Akpabio administration, earning Udom a place in history as the first governor in Nigeria to challenge the powers of the EFCC to inquire into the finances of a State Government.
” For over seven times, the Akwa Ibom State Government led by Udom Emmanuel blocked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating former Governor Godswill Akpabio. These facts are public knowledge” the group intoned.
The group pleaded, “Evidence no doubt speaks for itself, thus, Akpabio should spare Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who he has at various times described as the best for the state, denied any rift with, and Udom, who in all ramifications did not disappoint the Akwa Ibom people given the landmark performance and legacy of impact erected in the state from 2015 to 2023.
“We advise Senator Akpabio that rather than dissipating his energies looking for a perceived enemy and casting aspersions on the integrity and indisputable character of Governor Emmanuel, he should quickly leverage the goodwill and overwhelming support given to him by the good people of Akwa Ibom state, and Pastor Umo Eno since his emergence to ponder on various ways that he can work with Governor Umo to help the state move forward. We challenge Senator Akpabio as a matter of urgency to match his words with actions if he truly meant those “fine speeches” made to Pastor Umo Eno in Abuja by reciprocating a visit to the Akwa Ibom state Governor, as this will give the people the feeler of his genuine intention to work with the state Government to develop the state and enhance the welfare of the people”
